A. The board may license qualified persons as anesthesiologist assistants.
B. A person shall not perform, attempt to perform or hold the person's own self out as an anesthesiologist assistant until the person is licensed by the board as an anesthesiologist assistant and has registered the anesthesiologist assistant's supervising licensed anesthesiologist in accordance with board regulations.
C. An anesthesiologist assistant may assist the supervising anesthesiologist in developing and implementing an anesthesia care plan for a patient. In providing assistance to the supervising anesthesiologist, an anesthesiologist assistant may do any of the following:
(1) obtain a comprehensive patient history and perform a physical exam and present the history and exam findings to the supervising anesthesiologist who shall conduct a pre-anesthetic interview and evaluation;
(2) pretest and calibrate anesthesia delivery systems;
(3) monitor, obtain and interpret information from anesthesia delivery systems and anesthesia monitoring equipment;
(4) assist the supervising anesthesiologist with the implementation of medically accepted monitoring techniques;
(5) establish basic and advanced airway interventions, including intubation of the trachea and performing ventilatory support;
(6) administer intermittent vasoactive drugs;
(7) start and adjust vasoactive infusions;
(8) administer anesthetic drugs, adjuvant drugs and accessory drugs;
(9) assist the supervising anesthesiologist with the performance of epidural anesthetic procedures and spinal anesthetic procedures;
(10) administer blood, blood products and supportive fluids;
(11) participate in administrative activities and clinical teaching activities;
(12) participate in research activities by performing the same procedures that may be performed under Paragraphs (1) through (10) of this subsection; and
(13) provide assistance to cardiopulmonary resuscitation teams in response to life-threatening situations.
D. An applicant shall complete an application form provided by the board and shall submit the completed form and, except as provided in Section 61-1-34 NMSA 1978, the application fee to the board.
History: Laws 2001, ch. 311, § 3; 2003, ch. 302, § 2; 2020, ch. 6, § 14.
The 2020 amendment, effective July 1, 2020, provided an exception to the licensure fee for qualified military service members, their spouses and dependent children, and for certain veterans, and made certain technical amendments; in Subsection C, Paragraph C(1), after "anesthesiologist who", deleted "must" and added "shall"; and in Subsection D, after "completed form", deleted "with the" and added "and, except as provided in Section 61-1-34 NMSA 1978, the".
The 2003 amendment, effective June 20, 2003, in Paragraph C(1) inserted "and perform a physical exam" following "comprehensive patient history" and inserted "and exam findings" following "present the history".
Structure New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 61 - Professional and Occupational Licenses
Article 6 - Medicine and Surgery
Section 61-6-1 - Short title; purpose.
Section 61-6-2 - New Mexico medical board; appointment; terms; qualifications.
Section 61-6-3 - Meetings of the board; quorum.
Section 61-6-4 - Election; duties of officers; reimbursement of board members.
Section 61-6-5 - Duties and powers.
Section 61-6-7.1 - Definitions.
Section 61-6-7.2 - Inactive license.
Section 61-6-7.3 - Exemption from licensure.
Section 61-6-8 to 61-6-8.1 - Repealed.
Section 61-6-9 - Physician assistants; rules.
Section 61-6-10 - Supervising or collaborating licensed physician; responsibility.
Section 61-6-10.1 - Short title.
Section 61-6-10.2 - Definitions.
Section 61-6-10.2 - Definitions. (Effective July 1, 2025.)
Section 61-6-10.3 - Licensure; registration; anesthesiologist assistant; scope of authority.
Section 61-6-10.4 - Annual registration of employment; employment change.
Section 61-6-10.6 - Inactive license.
Section 61-6-10.7 - Exemption from licensure.
Section 61-6-10.10 - Supervising anesthesiologist; responsibilities.
Section 61-6-11 - Physician licensure.
Section 61-6-11.1 - Telemedicine license.
Section 61-6-12 - Criminal offender's character evaluation.
Section 61-6-13 - Physician licensure by endorsement.
Section 61-6-15.1 - Summary suspension or restriction of license.
Section 61-6-17 - Exceptions to act.
Section 61-6-18 - Medical students; interns; residents; fellows.
Section 61-6-18.1 - Public service license.
Section 61-6-20 - Practicing without license; penalty.
Section 61-6-21 - Continuing medical education; penalty.
Section 61-6-22 - Injunction to prevent practice without a license.
Section 61-6-23 - Investigation; subpoena.
Section 61-6-24 - Limitations on actions.
Section 61-6-25 - False statement; penalty.
Section 61-6-26 - Triennial renewal fees; penalty for failure to renew license.
Section 61-6-27 - Issuance and display of renewal certificate.
Section 61-6-28 - Licensed physicians; changing location.
Section 61-6-30 - Restoration of good standing; fees and other requirements.
Section 61-6-31 - Disposition of funds; New Mexico medical board fund created; method of payments.
Section 61-6-31.1 - Board of medical examiners [New Mexico medical board] fund; authorized use.
Section 61-6-33 - Licensure status.