(a) Definitions that apply to this section: - (i) "Physical therapy aide" or "aide" means a person who is not licensed as a physical therapist or certified as a physical therapist assistant, who aids a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant by performing treatment-related tasks or by performing non-treatment, patient-related tasks. Although they may be providing services to a patient pursuant to direction or instruction from a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant, the following persons are not considered physical therapy aides:
- (A) Educational or instructional aides or assistants working in a school setting; or
- (B) Nurses aides, restorative aides or personal care assistants, persons performing facility maintenance, equipment assembly and maintenance, housekeeping, clerical, or other similar tasks.
- (ii) "Treatment-related task" means a physical therapy service rendered directly to a patient.
- (iii) "Non-treatment, patient-related task" means a task related to preparation of treatment areas, transport of patients, preparation of patients for treatment, and clerical tasks.
- (iv) "Supervise" means to provide the amount of personal direction, assistance, advice and instruction necessary to reasonably assure that the supervisee provides the patient competent physical therapy services given the supervisor's actual knowledge of the supervisee's ability, training and experiences. Additionally, supervision of:
- (A) A treatment-related task requires that the supervising physical therapist or physical therapist assistant be in the same building within sight or earshot of the aide who is performing the treatment-related task. The supervising physical therapist or physical therapist assistant shall be immediately available at all times to provide in-person direction, assistance, advice, or instruction to the aide or the patient. A physical therapist may delegate supervision of an aide to a physical therapist assistant.
- (B) A non-treatment patient-related task requires that the supervising physical therapist or physical therapist assistant be within the building where the aide is performing the task.
(b) Supervision; Delegation of Supervision; Professional Responsibility of Supervisors and Supervisees: - (i) The physical therapist shall supervise the physical therapy aide in each treatment task and each non-treatment patient-related task assigned to the aide. The supervising physical therapist may delegate to a physical therapist assistant supervision of the aide.
- (ii) A physical therapist or physical therapist assistant is responsible for the competent performance of tasks assigned to an aide whom the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant is supervising.
- (iii) When a treatment-related task is performed by an aide, the supervising physical therapist or physical therapist assistant shall, at some point during each treatment, provide direct service to the patient to assess and monitor the patient's progress, and so document in the patient's record.
(c) Prohibited treatment-related tasks. A physical therapist or physical therapist assistant shall not permit an aide to perform any of the following treatment-related tasks: - (i) Administer mechanized or manual traction;
- (ii) Perform manual stretching with the goal of increasing range of motion, neuro-facilitation, or cardiac therapeutic exercise;
- (iv) Administer tilt table or standing frame.
- (v) Joint mobilization or manipulation;
- (vi) Determine or modify a plan of care;
- (vii) Instruct a patient or a patient's caregiver in the application of any treatment.
- (viii) Except as required to respond to an inquiry by the Board or other person authorized to receive the information, answer or discuss any questions regarding a patient's status or treatment with anyone other than the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant.
(d) Limited Treatment Related Tasks. - (i) The physical therapist or physical therapist assistant shall not delegate the following tasks to an aide unless specific treatment protocol and parameters have been defined by the physical therapist;
- (A) Administer iontophoresis;
- (B) Administer phonophoresis;
- (C) Administer electrotherapy; and
- (D) Administer ultrasound.
- (ii) No physical therapy aide shall independently make entries in a patient record, except for objective information about the treatment provided by the aide. A physical therapist or physical therapist assistant may dictate information to an aide for entry into a patient medical record. The physical therapist or physical therapist assistant shall authenticate these entries;