Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 49, December 6, 2024
Section 29-2-4 - Responsibilities of the Assistant's Supervisor4.1. The fully qualified, licensed supervising speech-language pathologist or audiologist is responsible for the services provided by assistants. The professionally licensed supervisor will hold full, unrestricted licenses and assume the following responsibilities for persons working under their direction. The supervisor of a speech language pathology or audiology assistant shall: (a) Register with the Board the name of each assistant working under his or her supervision;(b) Complete initial supervision training prior to accepting an assistant for supervision and upgrade supervision training on a regular basis.(c) Participate significantly in hiring the assistant.(d) Document preservice training and credentials of the assistant.(e) Ensure that persons receiving services from an assistant receive prior written notification that services are to be provided by an assistant and inform patients/clients and families about the level (professional vs. support personnel), frequency, and duration of services as well as supervision.(f) Provide direct supervision of the first three hours of treatment by the speech- language pathology assistant for each patient/client, followed by a minimum of one direct observation for each subsequent two week period. The supervisor shall document direct observations, and shall include information on the quality of the assistant s performance. Information obtained during direct observations may include data relative to (1) agreement (reliability) between the assistant and the supervisor on correct/incorrect judgment of target behavior, (2) accuracy in implementation of assessment and management procedures, (3) accuracy in recording data, and (4) ability to interact effectively with the client. These levels of agreement, or reliability levels shall be sampled a minimum of one time per each quarter year period. Whenever areas (1) through (3) fall below a 90% reliability level between supervising professional and the assistant for three consecutive direct observations, the supervisor shall provide retraining in areas of deficiency, and shall increase direct observation to 50% of all clinical sessions until the reliability level returns to 90% for three consecutive direct observations.(g) Represent the speech-language pathology or audiology team for drafting correspondence and reports for editing, approval, and signature by the speech-language pathologist or audiologist.(h) Provide 20% direct supervision and 10% indirect supervision for the first ninety (90) days, and thereafter ensure that he or she has direct contact with each patient/client at least once for every two weeks of treatment provided: Provided, That supervisors shall provide 100% direct supervision of an assistant who is providing treatment to a medically fragile patient/client.(i) Make all clinical decisions, including determining patient/client selection for inclusion/in the case load, and dismissing patients/clients from treatment.(j) Be on-site at all times when the speech-language pathology or audiology assistant is providing direct client services in a hospital, rehabilitation facility, or residential care facility, or insure that a person holding a current West Virginia license in the field of supervision is on- site in the absence on the supervisor. Supervision by an alternate supervisor shall not exceed 10 consecutive working days or a maximum of 20 working days per year;(k) Communicate with patients/clients, parents, and family members about assessment, prognosis, and treatment plan.(l) The supervisor provides documentation of a 90% or better reliability level between supervisor and assistant in: a. Correct/incorrect judgment of target behavior b. Accuracy in implementation of assessment and management procedures, and c. Accuracy in recording data.(m) Conduct diagnostic evaluation, assessments, or appraisals, and interpret obtained data in reports.(n) Review each treatment plan with the assistant at least weekly.(o) Delegate specific tasks to the assistant while retaining legal and ethical responsibility.(p) Prepare an individualized treatment plan and make modifications prior to or during implementation.(q) Discuss the case with or refer the patient/client to other professionals.(r) Sign all formal documents (e.g., treatment plans, reimbursement form reports; the supervisor should indicate on documents that the assistant performed certain activities).(s) Review and sign all informal progress notes prepared by the assistant.(t) Provide ongoing training to the assistant on the job.(u) Accurately document all direct and indirect supervisory activities on forms prescribed by the board, and submit the same annually upon application for renewal of registration.(v) Ensure that the assistant only performs tasks within the scope of responsibility of the speech-language pathology assistant.(w) Participate in the performance appraisal of the speech-language pathology or audiology assistant.(x) The speech-language pathologist or audiologist shall not supervise a speech-language pathology or audiology assistant until the speech-language pathologist or audiologist has completed the certification examination, the post graduate professional experience and 2 additional years of clinical experience after receiving licensure in speech-language pathology or audiology.(y) Supervise no more than three full-time assistants at any one time, with full-time employment being defined as forty (40 hours per week).