12 AAC 54.520. Supervision of aides by physical therapists

(a) A physical therapist may delegate to an aide only those patient related duties that are commensurate with the aide's experience, education, and training.

(b) The duties performed by an aide under this section are not considered the practice of physical therapy.

(1) the interpretation of patient referrals;

(2) the initial evaluation and reevaluation of the patient;

(3) the development, modification, direction, and termination of the treatment plan;

(4) the determination of the appropriate portions of the treatment plan that may be delegated to the aide, including specific precautions, problems, and contraindications to the plan;

(5) documentation of the treatment provided, including all written and oral reports;

(6) the adequate training of an aide for duties delegated to the aide;

(7) interacting with the patient regarding patient's condition, progress, and achievement of goals during each treatment session;

(8) providing continual on-site supervision of the aide when the aide is performing patient related duties.

(d) A physical therapist may not supervise, in any combination, more than three aides, assistants, students, foreign-trained candidates, and permittees at the same time.

(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, a physical therapist may not allow an aide to

(1) interpret a referral;

(2) perform evaluation procedures;

(3) initiate or adjust a treatment plan; or

(4) assume responsibility for the planning of patient care.

(f) In this section,

(1) "aide" means a nonlicensed worker who performs patient related duties under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist;

(2) "continual on-site supervision" means that the physical therapist is on the premises, readily visible to the aide, and available for immediate direction and supervision of the aide when the aide is performing patient related duties;

(3) "patient related duties" means routine tasks performed during a treatment session, as selected by the supervising physical therapist

History: Eff. 9/26/91, Register 119; am 4/16/2004, Register 170

Authority: AS 08.84.010

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