As used in the Anesthesiologist Assistants Act:

A. "anesthesiologist" means a physician licensed to practice medicine in New Mexico who has successfully completed an accredited anesthesiology graduate medical education program, who is board certified by the American board of anesthesiology or board eligible and who has completed a residency in anesthesiology within the last three years or who has foreign certification determined by the board to be the substantial equivalent;

B. "anesthesiologist assistant" means a skilled person licensed by the board as being qualified by academic and practical training to assist an anesthesiologist in developing and implementing anesthesia care plans for patients under the supervision and direction of the anesthesiologist who is responsible for the performance of that anesthesiologist assistant;

C. "applicant" means a person who is applying to the board for a license as an anesthesiologist assistant;

D. "board" means the New Mexico medical board; and

E. "license" means an authorization to practice as an anesthesiologist assistant.

History: Laws 2001, ch. 311, § 2; 2003, ch. 19, § 11; 2003, ch. 302, § 1; 2015, ch. 52, § 1.

The 2015 amendment, effective July 1, 2015, expanded the definitions of "anesthesiologist" and "anesthesiologist assistant" as used in the Anesthesiologist Assistants Act; in Subsection A, after "equivalent", deleted "and who is an employee of the department of anesthesiology of a medical school in New Mexico"; and in Subsection B, after "person", deleted "employed or to be employed by a university in New Mexico with a medical school certified" and added "licensed".

The 2003 amendment, effective June 20, 2003, inserted "or who has foreign certification determined by the board to be the substantial equivalent" following "last three years" near the end of Subsection A.