N.J. Admin. Code § 13:30-8.17

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 9, May 6, 2024

Section 13:30-8.17 - Delegation of physical modalities

(a) A dentist may delegate the administration of certain physical modalities to licensed dental hygienists, registered dental assistants, limited registered dental assistants, and unregistered dental assistants consistent with their particular scopes of practice as set forth in 13:30-1A.3, 1A.4, 2.4, 2.5, and 2.6 and as set forth in this section.

(b) Physical modalities, for the purpose of this section, shall be limited to hot and cold packs, ultrasound, electrogalvanic stimulation, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation ("T.E.N.S.") and phonophoresis.

(c) A dentist may delegate the administration of the physical modalities set forth in (b) above to licensed dental hygienists, registered dental assistants, and limited registered dental assistants consistent with their particular scopes of practice as set forth in 13:30-1A.3, 1A.4, 2.4, and 2.5, provided all of the following conditions are satisfied:

1. The dentist shall examine the patient to ascertain the nature of the dental condition or disease; to determine whether the application of a physical modality will encourage the alleviation of dentally related pain and the promotion of healing; to assess the risks of the modality for a given patient and the diagnosed condition, injury or disease, and to decide that the anticipated benefits are likely to outweigh those risks.

2. The dentist shall examine the patient prior to each visit and shall determine all components of the treatment to be performed. This determination shall include all types of modalities to be employed, a delineation of the precise area to which the application of each modality shall be limited, the dosage, wattage, or other applicable setting, the length of the treatment, and any and all other factors peculiar to the risks of that modality such as strict avoidance of certain parts of the body or static placement of the applicator. This information shall be written on the patient's chart prior to each patient's treatment after the dentist has examined the patient, and it shall be made available at all times to the licensed dental hygienist, registered dental assistant or limited registered dental assistant who is responsible for administering the modality.

3. The dentist shall evaluate the patient prior to any subsequent scheduled application of the modality to ascertain that continued treatment is appropriate and that no contraindications to treatment have become apparent.

4. The dentist shall be physically present in the dental office at all times that treatment orders are being carried out and shall be within reasonable proximity to the treatment room.

(d) A dentist may delegate the administration of hot or cold packs to unlicensed assistants. No other physical modalities as set forth in (b) above shall be performed by an unlicensed assistant.

(e) On a health insurance claim form pertaining to physical modalities and requiring certification by the dentist, the dentist shall identify the specific modality applied and shall not generically identify the treatment as physical therapy.

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:30-8.17

Amended by 48 N.J.R. 1462(b), effective 7/18/2016