N.M. Admin. Code § 16.15.3.9

Current through Register Vol. 36, No. 1, January 14, 2025

Section 16.15.3.9 - TASK DELEGATION

Regardless of the setting in which occupational therapy services are delivered, the occupational therapist and the occupational therapy assistant assume the following generic responsibilities during evaluation, intervention, and outcomes evaluation.

A. Evaluation.

(1) The occupational therapist directs the evaluation process.

(2) The occupational therapist is responsible for directing all aspects of the initial contact during the occupational therapy evaluation, including:

(a) determining the need for service;

(b) defining the problems within the domain of occupational therapy that need to be addressed;

(c) determining the client's goals and priorities;

(d) establishing intervention priorities;

(e) determining specific further assessment needs; and

(f) determining specific assessment tasks that can be delegated to the occupational therapy assistant.

(3) The occupational therapist initiates and directs the evaluation, interprets the data, and develops the intervention plan.

(4) The occupational therapy assistant contributes to the evaluation process by implementing delegated assessments and by providing verbal and written reports of observations and client capacities to the occupational therapist.

(5) The occupational therapist interprets the information provided by the occupational therapy assistant and integrates that information into the evaluation and decision making process.

B. Intervention planning.

(1) The occupational therapist has overall responsibility for the development of the occupational therapy intervention plan.

(2) The occupational therapist and the occupational therapy assistant collaborate with the client to develop the plan.

(3) The occupational therapy assistant is responsible for being knowledgeable about evaluation results and for providing input into the intervention plan, based on client needs and priorities.

C. Intervention Implementation.

(1) The occupational therapist has overall responsibility for implementing the intervention.

(2) Then delegating aspects of the occupational therapy intervention to the occupational therapy assistant, the occupational therapist is responsible for providing appropriate supervision.

(3) The occupational therapy assistant is responsible for being knowledgeable about the client's occupational therapy goals.

(4) The occupational therapy assistant selects, implements, and makes modifications to therapeutic activities and interventions that are consistent with demonstrated competency levels, client goals, and the requirements of the practice setting.

D. Intervention Review.

(1) The occupational therapist is responsible for determining the need for continuing, modifying, or discontinuing occupational therapy services.

(2) The occupational therapy assistant contributes to this process by exchanging information with and providing documentation to the occupational therapist about the client's responses to and communications during intervention.

E. Outcome Evaluation.

(1) The occupational therapist is responsible for selecting, measuring, and interpreting outcomes that are related to the client's ability to engage in occupations.

(2) The occupational therapy assistant is responsible for being knowledgeable about the client's targeted occupational therapy outcomes and for providing information and documentation related to outcome achievement.

(3) The occupational therapy assistant may implement outcome measurements and provide needed client discharge resources.

N.M. Admin. Code § 16.15.3.9

06-14-97; 16.15.3.9 NMAC - Rn & A, 16 NMAC 15.3.9, 06-29-00; A, 04-03-03; A, 08-29-05

Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXVI, Issue 01, January 15, 2015, eff. 1/30/2015