Can an ER trained physician with training in botox, meso, etc... open a medspa in florida?

I am a physician in Colorado and wishing to begin a Medical Spa but I need some information on the legal obligations of the physician and the role they play. Is there a minimum response time, minimum distance, minimum time commitment required by the state? Where can I go to get the information on this?
DWS

This varies by state. You will need to contact the state medical board and an attorney. Some of the laws on lasers and other light based therapies are very poorly written and left up to significant interpretation.

Yes, an ER physician in FL could open a med-spa, but it would have to be your primary office if you intend on hiring a midlevel to do the procedures. If you want to open a medispa and you also intend on being there and/or performing the procedures yourself, then you absolutely have no problems as a physician. The new laws last summer had to do with keeping physicians other than dermatologists and plastic surgeons from opening many satellite offices and hiring many midlevels to run them. The law did not restrict what a physician could do in their own primary office.

DWS: I suggest you use GOOGLE to find the Colorado statute which defines "the practice of medicine". This statute will generally lead you to the statute which provides the pertinent details regarding whom the physician can legally delegate various procedures to and under what kinds of delegation and prescriptive requirements. In Minnesota lasers can only be legally delegated to advanced practice nurses with standing orders and so forth but many individuals are currently "flying under the radar".

I live in FL, but I'm from Minnesota, and I'm pretty sure PA's can also use lasers in Minnesota, for the record... In fact, see Section 147A.09 of Minnesota law - PA's practice medicine under the supervision of a physician... there's not a lot we can't do when appropriate supervision requirements are met... ;)

DWS: I'm in Colorado and there's a lot of latitude for MDs
to "supervise" staff at more than 1 facility...must be reachable by phone and within 30 minutes travel time. Some group practices(and individuals) have offices in a string neighboring towns. Let me know if I can help.

There is a laser college in colorado and on their website they list all the requirements for each state.

I wish I could remember the website.

PMD: I believe the site you are referring to is Rocky Mountain Laser College. A word of caution-- the list they post and others I have seen are very sketchy in terms of telling someone who can legally operate lasers in the state and under what circumstances and constraints. The only way to find out is to check the statutes and regs for the individual state. You can usually find the key regulation in the category of "the practice of medicine" and the details concerning delegation and supervision.

Tony: You are correct about PAs in Minnesota. Unfortunately a lot of people seem to think estheticians are also "medical" personnel and they are not in most states.

Thank you.