Must someone be on site while a patient is treated in Alabama?
Oversight · part of The Practice Perimeter
Short answer
Not always — the delegating physician must provide either on-site or locally remote supervision for non-ablative treatments by a Level 1 or 2 delegate, with the choice driven by that delegate's training and experience and the risk of harm to the patient.
(f) On-site or locally remote supervision for non-ablative treatments performed by Level 1 and 2 Delegates consistent with these rules, the training and experience of the delegate performing the procedure, and the risk of harm to the patient; (g) Personal evaluation and care for complications that arise;
Ala. Admin. Code r. 540-X-11-.04(2)(f)-(g) (Delegation and supervision) · verified Sep 4, 2026 · regulatory monitoring, not legal advice
Related Alabama rules
Written protocols for the purpose of this section shall mean physician’s order, standing delegation order, standing medical order, or other written order that is maintained on site. A written protocol must be provided to the Board upon request and must provide, at a minimum, the following: (1) A statement identifying the individual physician authorized to utilize the specified device and responsible for the delegation of the performance of the specified procedure, including proof of the physician’s training in accordance with these rules; (2) A statement of the activities, decision criteria, and plan the Level 1 or 2 Delegate shall follow when performing delegated procedures;
Ala. Admin. Code r. 540-X-11-.05 (Written protocols) · verified Sep 4, 2026
On-site supervision means continuous supervision in which the supervising physician is physically present in the same building as the properly trained Level 1 or 2 Delegate who is using a laser or light-based device; all treatments and procedures must be performed under the physician's direction and immediate personal supervision, and the physician must be immediately available at all times that the Level 1 or 2 Delegate is on duty.
Ala. Admin. Code r. 540-X-11-.02(8) (On-Site Supervision) · verified Sep 8, 2026
How other states answer this
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
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