CHAPTER 690

An Act to amend and reenact § 54-276.7 of the Code of Virginia, relating
to the employment of unlicensed practitioners as internes or residents
in hospitals, so as to extend the period of employment in certain cases
and under certain conditions.

[(S 278]

Approved April 7, 1952

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 54-276.7 of the Code of Virginia be amended and reenacted
as follows:

§ 54-276.7. Unlicensed practitioners in hospitals.—Unlicensed prac-
titioners may be employed as internes or residents in a legally established
and licensed hospital provided their practice is confined strictly to persons
who are bona fide patients within the hospital or who receive treatment
and advice in an organized outpatient department of the hospital to which
ambulant patients regularly come for professional services rendered under
supervision of licensed members of the hospital staff. Such unlicensed
practitioners shall be at all times responsible and accountable to a licensed
member of the staff. No unlicensed practitioner may be employed by
any hospital unless he has completed successfully the preliminary academic
education required for admission to examinations given by the Board in
his particular field of practice, or holds a valid license issued in a State
maintaining standards acceptable for reciprocity with this State. No
graduate of a substandard medical school may be employed as an interne
or resident in any hospital or in any capacity involving professional duties,
except that the Board may in its discretion under unusual, temporary or
emergency conditions permit the employment of graduates of such schools
under such restrictions and conditions as the Board may prescribe in each
particular case. The Board may determine the extent and scope of the
duties and professional services which may be rendered by unlicensed
internes and residents whenever such duties and services are not fixed
by existing law.

On and after January first, nineteen hundred forty-nine no person
shall serve as an unlicensed interne or resident in any hospital in this
State after period of three years has elapsed from the date on which his
services as an unlicensed interne or resident first commenced in the State;
provided, however, that tf at the end of such three year period an interne
or resident 1s taking a special course of training in a hospital approved
by the American Medical Association for such specified training, such hos-
pital may, with the consent of the Board first obtained, continue the employ-
ment for such additional period not in excess of two years as may be
required for the completion of the course, during which additional period

such unlicensed interne or resident may continue his service in the hos-

pital as authorized herein. The Board may prescribe such rules and regu-

lations not in conflict with existing law and require such reports from

hospitals in the State as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of
is section.