What must the supervising physician actually do in New York?
Oversight · part of The Practice Perimeter
Short answer
Give the order and stay reachable — energy-device treatments that are the practice of medicine must be performed by or under the order of a physician, PA, or NP, who need not be on site but must be available to guide or intervene within a reasonable period.
Treatments the Department has adopted as the practice of medicine must be performed by, or under the order of, a licensed physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner. The supervision required is GENERAL supervision: the supervising physician or nurse practitioner need not be physically present, but must be available to give guidance or to intervene within a reasonable period for the treatment being rendered.
N.Y. State Board for Medicine — Use of Energy Devices Including Lasers as the Practice of Medicine (Mar. 7, 2025) · verified Aug 17, 2026 · regulatory monitoring, not legal advice
Related New York rules
Only registered professional nurses, under the general supervision of a licensed physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner, may carry out orders for treatment involving energy devices. Registered nurses are also the only professionals other than licensed medical practitioners authorized to perform the patient assessment that the Board requires before, during and after every energy-device treatment.
N.Y. State Board for Medicine — Use of Energy Devices Including Lasers as the Practice of Medicine (Mar. 7, 2025) · verified Aug 17, 2026
All treatments with energy devices require an assessment of the patient's condition before, during and after the procedure, and registered professional nurses are the only professionals other than licensed medical practitioners authorized to perform general patient assessments. Under general supervision the supervising physician or nurse practitioner need not be physically present, but must be available to provide guidance or intervene within a reasonable period, depending on the treatment rendered.
N.Y. State Board for Medicine — Use of Energy Devices Including Lasers as the Practice of Medicine (Practitioner Guidelines — general supervision) · verified Sep 8, 2026
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