N.J. Admin. Code § 13:39A-7.2

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 13:39A-7.2 - Responsibilities of designated supervising licensed physical therapist

(a) When providing direct supervision, a supervising licensed physical therapist shall be in the same building or, where physical therapy is rendered in several contiguous buildings, in one of the contiguous buildings, while the licensed physical therapist assistant is rendering care. The supervising licensed physical therapist shall be constantly available through electronic communications for consultation or for recall to the area where the licensed physical therapist assistant is rendering care.

(b) When providing direct supervision, a supervising licensed physical therapist shall, at least once every 30 days after initial review of a new or revised plan of care with the licensed physical therapist assistant, document in the patient record that he or she has reviewed the patient's progress and plan of care with the assistant, including the dates when those reviews took place. Such documentation may be incorporated into progress notes written by the licensed physical therapist or the licensed physical therapist assistant and need not require separate or additional notes.

(c) When providing general supervision, a licensed physical therapist shall:

1. Make an on-site visit and participate in the treatment of the patient at least every six patient visits or every 14 days, whichever occurs first. During this on-site visit, the licensed physical therapist shall review the plan of care in order to determine the need for revisions to the plan or for the completion of the episode of care;

2. In addition to the on-site visits required by (c)1 above, a licensed physical therapist shall make an on-site visit:

i. If the licensed physical therapist assistant requests a reexamination of the patient;

ii. If a change in the plan of care is needed;

iii. Prior to the planned completion of an episode of care; and

iv. When the patient's medical status has changed;

3. Be accessible by telecommunications to the licensed physical therapist assistant at all times while the physical therapist assistant is treating patients; and

4. Meet or communicate with the licensed physical therapist assistant regarding patients, as frequently as the licensed physical therapist determines is necessary based on the needs of the patient and of the licensed physical therapist assistant. Such meeting or communication shall be documented in the patient's record.

(d) The supervising licensed physical therapist's professional judgment shall ultimately determine the safe provision of physical therapy services being rendered by the licensed physical therapist assistant(s).

(e) The supervising licensed physical therapist shall cosign the licensed physical therapist assistant's notes prior to the next provision of physical therapy services to that patient. If patient records are maintained on a computer recordkeeping system that does not permit a supervising licensed physical therapist to cosign a licensed physical therapist assistant's notes, the supervising licensed physical therapist shall enter a separate note in the patient record indicating that he or she has reviewed the licensed physical therapist assistant's notes.

(f) The supervising licensed physical therapist shall review the plan of care with the licensed physical therapist assistant:

1. Before a licensed physical therapist assistant provides care to a patient for the first time;

2. Before the licensed physical therapist assistant implements a new or revised plan of care; and

3. On or before the patient's next visit in the event of a change in supervising licensed physical therapist.

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:39A-7.2

Amended by R.2001 d.239, effective 7/16/2001.
See: 33 N.J.R. 1309(a), 33 N.J.R. 2483(a).
In (a), inserted "physical therapist" preceding "supervisor" throughout, deleted "immediate" following "recall to the" and inserted "where the licensed physical therapist assistant is rendering care" following "area"; in (b), deleted "at the contiguous buildings"; in (d), deleted "as follows" in the introductory paragraph and deleted "specific" in 1; in (e), inserted "licensed physical therapist" following "revised plan of care with the".
Amended by R.2007 d.21, effective 1/16/2007.
See: 38 N.J.R. 2990(a), 39 N.J.R. 222(a).
Section was "Responsibilities of designated physical therapist supervisor". Inserted "licensed" throughout.
Amended by R.2019 d.056, effective 6/3/2019.
See: 50 N.J.R. 2044(a), 51 N.J.R. 894(a).
Section was "Responsibilities of designated licensed physical therapist supervisor". In (a), substituted "When providing direct supervision, a supervising" for "The"; deleted "supervisor" following the first and third occurrences of "therapist", and inserted the second occurrence of "supervising"; deleted former (e); added (b) and (c); recodified former (b) through (d) as (d) through (f); in (e), substituted "prior to the next provision of physical therapy services to that patient" for "contemporaneously with the services rendered"; and in (f)3, substituted "supervising licensed physical therapist" for "the designated supervisor".
Amended by R.2020 d.088, effective 9/21/2020.
See: 51 N.J.R. 1568(a), 52 N.J.R. 1778(c).
In (e), added the second sentence.