PROPOSED RULES
(Podiatric Medical Board)
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 98-22-085.
Title of Rule: WAC 246-922-300 Podiatric continuing education required and 246-922-310 Categories of creditable podiatric continuing education activities.
Purpose: The revisions would change the continuing education reporting period from one year to a two-year cycle.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.22.015.
Statute Being Implemented: Chapter 18.22 RCW.
Summary: The revisions will change the reporting of compliance for the continuing education requirements to every two years instead of the current one year.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: By increasing the reporting period, this permits podiatric physicians to claim hours of more extensive courses over a longer reporting period. The better quality courses are fifty hours long and the board would like to encourage podiatrists to attend these types of courses.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: Arlene Robertson, Program Manager, 1300 Quince Street, Olympia, WA, (360) 236-4945.
Name of Proponent: Podiatric Medical Board, governmental.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Explanation of Rule, its Purpose, and Anticipated Effects: The rules outline the acceptable types of continuing education requirements and the reporting period for maintaining a license. Continuing education is encouraged as one mechanism to maintain and enhance competence.
Proposal Changes the Following Existing Rules: The rules are being changed to require fifty hours continuing education every two years. Licensees would report compliance every other year at the time of renewal.
A small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW.
An estimated two hundred and thirty credentialed providers will have to comply with the requirements of these rules.
Public involvement was solicited through mailings to interested parties and board meetings. This issue has also been discussed at the annual meeting of the Washington State Podiatric Medical Association and received positive support.
Opportunity for written comments was provided during different stages of the development of the rules. No comments have been received.
A copy of the statement may be obtained by writing to Arlene Robertson, Program Manager, P.O. Box 47870, Olympia, WA 98504-7870, phone (360) 236-4945, fax (360) 586-0745.
Section 201, chapter 403, Laws of 1995, does not apply to this rule adoption. The rules will not adopt new or make significant amendments to a policy or regulatory program. The agency has not conducted the additional analysis required under RCW 34.05.328.
Hearing Location: Department of Health, 1102 S.E. Quince, Olympia, WA 98506, on September 10, 1999, at 9:30 a.m.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact (360) 236-4945 by September 1, 1999, TDD 1-800-525-0127.
Submit Written Comments to: Arlene Robertson, Podiatric Medical Board, P.O. Box 47870, Olympia, WA 98504-7870, fax (360) 586-0745, by September 6, 1999.
Date of Intended Adoption: September 10, 1999.
June 30, 1999
Robert J. Nicoloff
Executive Director
OTS-2416.2
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 98-05-060, filed 2/13/98, effective 3/16/98)
WAC 246-922-300
Podiatric continuing education required.
The podiatric medical board encourages licensees to deliver high-quality patient care. The board recognizes that continuing education programs designed to inform practitioners of recent developments within podiatric medicine and relative fields and review of various aspects of basic professional education and podiatric practice are beneficial to professional growth. The board encourages participation in podiatric continuing education as a mechanism to maintain and enhance competence.
(1) ((Twenty-five)) Fifty contact hours of scientific podiatric continuing education ((shall
be)) is required ((annually)) every two years when the license is renewed to maintain a current
license as provided in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 7.
Five credit hours may be granted for one hour of course instruction. A maximum of
((five)) ten hours may be claimed per ((renewal)) reporting period.
(2) Approved courses shall be scientific in nature designed to provide information and enhancement of current knowledge of the mechanisms of disease and treatment, which may include applicable clinical information.
(a) Serving as a resident in an approved post-graduate residency training program shall
satisfy the continuing education credit for ((licensure renewal)) the reporting period.
(b) Continuing education activities which do not affect the delivery of patient care, (e.g., marketing and billing), may not be claimed for continuing education credit.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.280. 98-05-060, § 246-922-300, filed 2/13/98, effective 3/16/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.22.015. 94-05-051, § 246-922-300, filed 2/10/94, effective 3/13/94; 91-10-041 (Order 158B), § 246-922-300, filed 4/25/91, effective 5/26/91.]
The following categories of creditable podiatric continuing education activities
sponsored by the following organizations are approved by the board. The credits must be earned
in the ((twelve-)) twenty-four month period preceding ((application for renewal of licensure)) the
licensee's reporting period. One contact hour is defined as a typical fifty-minute classroom
instructional session or its equivalent.
(1) Scientific courses or seminars approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association and its component societies and affiliated and related organizations.
(2) Scientific courses or seminars offered by accredited, licensed, or otherwise approved hospitals, colleges, and universities and their associated foundations and institutes offering continuing education programs in podiatric medicine.
(3) Scientific courses or seminars offered by recognized nonpodiatric medical and health-care related societies (e.g., the American Medical Association, the American Physical Therapy Association) offering continuing education programs related to podiatric medicine.
(4) Scientific courses or seminars offered by other nonprofit organizations, other proprietary organizations, and individuals offering continuing education in podiatric medicine.
(5) A post-graduate residency training program accredited by the council on podiatric medical education.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.22.015. 94-05-051, § 246-922-310, filed 2/10/94, effective 3/13/94; 91-10-041 (Order 158B), § 246-922-310, filed 4/25/91, effective 5/26/91.]