CHAPTER 284

An Act to amend and reenact § 54-276.7, as amended, of the Code of Vir-
ginia, relating to the employment of internes and residents in hospitals.

(S 158]
Approved March 31, 1964
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 54-276.7, as amended, of the Code of Virginia, be amended
and reenacted as follows:
§ 54-276.7. Unlicensed or licensed practitioners 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 ambu-
lant patients regularly come for professional services rendered under
supervision of licensed members of the hospital staff, and provided,
further, that such employment is a part of a regularly established course
of instruction for such internes or residents. Such interne or resident
shall be responsible and accountable at all times to a licensed member
of the staff. No unlicensed practitioner may be employed by any hospi-
tal unless he has completed successfully the preliminary academic edu-
cation 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, tem-
porary 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.

* No person shall serve as an interne or resident in any hospital
controlled and operated by the State Hospital Board after a period of
siz years has elapsed, or in any other hospital in this State after a period
of three years has elapsed, from the date on which his services as in-
terne or resident first commenced in the State; provided, however, that
if at the end of such three year period an interne or resident is taking
a special course of training in a hospital approved by the American
Medical Association for such specified training, such hospital may, with
the consent of the Board first obtained, continue the employment 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
interne or resident may continue his service in the hospital as authorized
herein. The Board may prescribe such rules and regulations 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 this section.