cation, or disapproval of an application for certifi-
cation The Committee may report to the Board
any alleged unauthorized practice of a physician
assistant, or any conduct of a supervising physician
or a physician assistant that may be cause for disci
plinary action
To perform delegated medical acts, a physician
assistant must obtain an approved job description
from the State Board of Physician Quality Assurance
The Committee evaluates the qualifications of the
physician assistant for delegated medical acts to be
performed under that job description and recom
mends that the Board approve, modify, or reject the
application for a job description The Board, on review
of the Committee's recommendation, may approve,
modify, or deny a request for certification
The Committee's seven members are appointed
to three-year terms by the State Board of Physician
Quality Assurance (Code Health Occupations Ar
tide, sees 15-101 through 15 502)

PSYCHIATRIST ASSISTANT ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Sheila K Riggs, Chair

The Psychiatrist Assistant Advisory Committee
was established in 1981 within the State Board of
Medical Examiners The Committee advises the
State Board of Physician Quality Assurance con
cermng the profession of psychiatrist assistant in
matters such as examination and certification, regu-
lations, and standards of professional conduct

RESPIRATORY CARE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
COMMITTEE

Martin Melvin, R R.T , Cha<r

Authorized in 1988, the Respiratory-Care Profes
sional Standards Committee was formed m 1990
(Chapter 127,Acts of 1988) The Committee advises
the State Board of Physician Quality Assurance on
regulations governing the practice of respiratory care,
and the approval, modification, or disapproval of an
application for certification The Committee refers to
the Board any allegation of unauthorized practice by
a respiratory care practitioner or conduct by a super
vising physician or respiratory care practitioner that
may be cause for disciplinary action

OPERATIONS

Robert W Eastndge, Deputy Secretary
for Operations

201 West Preston St
Baltimore, MD 21201—2399 (410) 767 5502

Operations supports the Department through
financial planning, expenditure control, personnel
management, data processing, general services,
grants administration, and capital construction
The Deputy Secretary also aids the Secretary of

Health and Mental Hygiene in matters that involve
other State agencies, the legislature, the guberna
tonal staff, and the federal government
Under the Deputy Secretary are four admini-
strations Financial Planning, Fiscal Services, Gen-
eral Services, and Personnel Services

OFFICE OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Michael R Carter, Director
(410) 767 6600

The Office of Community Relations began un
der the Personnel Services Administration and was
placed under Operations in 1994 The Office moni-
tors Department programs and health care provid
ers to assure that they comply with civil rights laws,
mandates, and regulations For the same purpose,
the Office monitors personnel management, serv
ices, and procurement procedures of the Depart
ment The Office also develops and monitors
programs for equal opportunities for employment,
including affirmative action, on site review, out-
reach recruitment, and complaint processing In
addition, the Office develops and monitors pro-
grams for equal access to health care and for minor
ity business participation in State contracts

OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
Richard A Proctor, Chief
(410) 767 6480

The Office of Governmental Affairs oversees
constituent services and governmental relations

OFFICE OF PLANNING & CAPITAL FINANCING
Elizabeth G Barnard, Chief
(410) 767 6816

The Office of Planning and Capital Financing
began as the Office of Planning and Policy Man
agement and received its present name in 1994
The Office prepares the Department's annual Ex-
ecutive Plan, the Five-Year Capital Improvement
Plan, the Master Facilities Plan, and twenty mdivid
ual facility plans The Office also is responsible for
the Department's annual capital budget, real estate
transactions, and bond bill submission Internal
policies and procedures are developed and promul-
gated through the Office The Office also conducts
special studies requested by the Secretary of Health
and Mental Hygiene or the legislature

OFFICE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS
Jeanette Duerr, Chief
(410) 767 6490

The Office of Public Relations directs public affairs
of the Department and coordinates them with depart
mental officials, local health officers, and the Gover
nor's Office The Office also arranges special events
and disseminates employee information