Fla. Admin. Code R. 64B17-6.007

Current through Reg. 50, No. 235-239, December 10, 2024

Section 64B17-6.007 - Delegation to Unlicensed Personnel by the Physical Therapist

(1) Unlicensed personnel may be utilized to assist in the delivery of patient care treatment by the physical therapist, with direct supervision by the physical therapist or the physical therapist assistant.

(2) It is the sole responsibility of the physical therapist to consider the task delegated, select the appropriately trained personnel to perform the task, communicate the task or activity desired of the unlicensed personnel, verify the understanding by the unlicensed personnel chosen for the task or activity, and establish procedures for the monitoring of the tasks or activities delegated.

(3) The physical therapist shall retain ultimate responsibility for the patient's physical therapy treatment. Any delegation of treatment to supportive personnel shall be done with consideration of the education, training, and experience of the support personnel. It is the sole responsibility of the physical therapist to define and delineate the education, training, and experience required to perform duties within the physical therapy practice setting, in writing as a part of the practice policies and procedures.

(a) Education entails a technical or professional degree or certification in a specific practice area providing for background and experience.

(b) Qualification by training is the learning of tasks performed and delegated to individuals within the physical therapy practice.

1. The physical therapist shall define the procedures to be used to train unlicensed personnel to perform patient care related tasks or activities within the practice.

2. It is the responsibility of the physical therapist to insure that the necessary training occurred prior to the delegation of a patient care task or activity to unlicensed personnel.

(4) Competency is demonstrated ability to carry out specific functions with reasonable skill and safety. It is the responsibility of the physical therapist to assure competency in delegated skills relative to the tasks delegated.

(5) The physical therapist is responsible for the evaluation and reevaluation of the patient's condition as may be necessary throughout the course of treatment to assure for appropriate treatment and any necessary revision of treatment.

(6) The physical therapist shall not delegate:

(a) Those activities that require the special knowledge, judgment, and skills of the physical therapist, which include:

1. The initial evaluation or any subsequent reevaluation of the patient.

2. Interpretations of the initial evaluation or subsequent reevaluation.

3. Establishment or revision of the physical therapy goals.

4. Development or alteration of the plan of care.

5. Evaluation and interpretation of the progress of the patient in relationship to the plan of care.

(b) Those activities that require the special knowledge, judgment, and skills of the physical therapist assistant, which include:

1. Subsequent reassessments of the patient.

2. Assessment of the progress of the patient in relationship to the plan of care.

(c) Patient progress notes. The unlicensed personnel may document tasks and activities of patients during the patient treatment.

(7) Supervision of unlicensed personnel is the provision of guidance or oversight by qualified physical therapists or physical therapist assistants for the accomplishment of any delegated tasks. A physical therapist may only delegate tasks for which he is qualified or legally entitled to perform and a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant may only supervise those tasks or activities for which the licensee is qualified or legally entitled to perform.

(8) The number of unlicensed personnel participating in patient care tasks or activities, at any one given time shall be determined by the physical therapist dependent upon the individual practice setting, and the individual therapeutic needs of the patients supervised by the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant while assuring for quality care of the patients.

Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 64B17-6.007

Rulemaking Authority 486.025, 486.161(3) FS. Law Implemented 486.161(3), 486.125(1)(e), (j), 486.171(2) FS.

New 8-16-95, Formerly 59Y-6.007.