3 Colo. Code Regs. § 715-1.8

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 1, January 10, 2025

Section 3 CCR 715-1.8 - SUPERVISION OF LICENSED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANTS AND AIDES

This Rule is promulgated pursuant to sections 12-20-204, 12-270-104(2), (11), and (12), 12-270-109, and 12-270-116, C.R.S.

A. The occupational therapist is legally responsible for the performance of the licensed occupational therapy assistant(s) and aide(s) operating under the occupational therapist's direction and supervision as authorized by section 12-270-104(12), C.R.S. That responsibility in turn requires the occupational therapist to provide supervision adequate to ensure the safety and welfare of clients.

B. Adequate supervision of licensed occupational therapy assistants and aides requires, at a minimum, that a supervising occupational therapist perform the following:

1. Provide client evaluation and appropriate reassessment;

2. Interpret available information concerning the individual under care;

3. Develop a plan of care, including long and short term goals;

4. Identify and document precautions, special problems, contraindications, anticipated progress, and/or plans for reevaluation;

5. Select and delegate appropriate tasks in the plan of care;

6. Designate or establish channels of written and oral communication;

7. Assess competence of personnel to perform assigned tasks;

8. Direct and supervise personnel in delegated tasks; and

9. When necessary, re-evaluate, adjust plan of care, perform final evaluation, and/or establish follow-up plan.

C. An occupational therapist must exercise professional judgment when determining the number of personnel the occupational therapist can safely and effectively supervise to ensure that quality client care is provided at all times.

D. An occupational therapist must provide adequate staff-to-client ratio at all times to ensure the provision of safe, quality care.

E. Supervision of licensed occupational therapy assistants shall be accomplished to ensure that:

1. Licensed occupational therapy assistants do not initiate or alter a treatment program without prior evaluation by and approval of the supervising occupational therapist.

2. Licensed occupational therapy assistants obtain prior approval of the supervising occupational therapist before making adjustments to a specific treatment procedure.

3. Licensed occupational therapy assistants do not interpret data beyond the scope of their occupational therapy assistant education and training.

4. Licensed occupational therapy assistants respond to inquiries regarding client status to appropriate parties within the protocol established by the supervising occupational therapist.

5. Licensed occupational therapy assistants refer inquiries regarding client prognosis to a supervising occupational therapist.

F. Supervision of aides shall be accomplished to ensure that aides perform only specific tasks that are neither evaluative, task selective, nor recommending in nature, and only after ensuring that the aide has been appropriately trained for, and has demonstrated competence to the occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant as authorized by section 12-270-104(2), C.R.S., in the performance of the tasks.

1. Such tasks may include, but are not limited to:

a. Routine department maintenance or housekeeping activities.

b. Transportation of clients.

c. Preparing or setting up a work area or equipment.

d. Taking care of clients' personal needs during treatments.

e. Clerical, secretarial, or administrative activities.

2. The following may not be delegated to an aide:

a. Performance of any occupational therapy evaluative procedures.

b. Initiation, planning, adjustment, modification, or performance of occupational therapy treatment procedures.

c. Making occupational therapy entries directly in clients' official records.

d. Acting on behalf of the occupational therapist and/or occupational therapy assistant in any matter related to occupational therapy treatment which requires judgment and/or decision making.

3 CCR 715-1.8

38 CR 04, February 25, 2015, effective 3/17/2015

42 CR 13, July 10, 2019, effective 7/30/2019

43 CR 03, February 10, 2020, effective 1/1/2020

43 CR 07, April 10, 2020, effective 4/30/2020

44 CR 11, June 10, 2021, effective 4/27/2021

44 CR 12, June 25, 2021, effective 7/15/2021

45 CR 14, July 25, 2022, effective 6/28/2022

45 CR 16, August 25, 2022, effective 9/14/2022

45 CR 21, November 10, 2022, effective 11/30/2022