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PDFWAC 246-803-310

Referral to primary health care provider.

(1) When an acupuncturist or acupuncture and Eastern medicine practitioner sees a patient with a potentially serious disorder, the acupuncturist or acupuncture and Eastern medicine practitioner shall immediately request a consultation or written diagnosis from a primary health care provider.
(2) Potentially serious disorders include, but are not limited to:
(a) Cardiac conditions including uncontrolled hypertension;
(b) Acute abdominal symptoms;
(c) Acute undiagnosed neurological changes;
(d) Unexplained weight loss or gain in excess of fifteen percent body weight within a three-month period;
(e) Suspected fracture or dislocation;
(f) Suspected systemic infection;
(g) Any serious undiagnosed hemorrhagic disorder; and
(h) Acute respiratory distress without previous history or diagnosis.
(3) In the event a patient with a potentially serious disorder refuses to authorize such consultation or provide a recent diagnosis from a primary health care provider, acupuncture or Eastern medicine treatments, may only continue after the patient signs a written waiver acknowledging the risks associated with the failure to pursue treatment from a primary health care provider.
(4) The written waiver must include:
(a) A statement acknowledging that failure by the patient to pursue treatment from a primary health care provider may involve risks that such a condition can worsen without further warning and even become life threatening;
(b) An explanation of an acupuncturist's or acupuncture and Eastern medicine practitioner's scope of practice, to include the services and techniques acupuncturists or acupuncture and Eastern medicine practitioners are authorized to provide; and
(c) A statement that the services and techniques that an acupuncturist or acupuncture and Eastern medicine practitioner is authorized to provide will not resolve the patient's underlying potentially serious disorder.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.06.160, chapter 18.06 RCW, 2019 c 308, 2020 c 229 and 2020 c 76. WSR 21-09-008, § 246-803-310, filed 4/8/21, effective 5/9/21. Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.06 RCW and 2010 c 286. WSR 11-17-105, § 246-803-310, filed 8/22/11, effective 9/22/11.]