Alabama Administrative Code
Title 700 - ALABAMA BOARD OF PHYSICAL THERAPY
Chapter 700-X-3 - PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
Section 700-X-3-.03 - Roles And Responsibilities Of Licensees
Universal Citation: AL Admin Code R 700-X-3-.03
Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 02, November 27, 2024
(1) Within the provision of physical therapy service there are three recognized levels of personnel: The physical therapist who is licensed or privileged to practice physical therapy; the physical therapist assistant who is licensed or privileged to assist the physical therapist; and the physical therapist aide who is an unlicensed person. The physical therapist must assume primary responsibility for physical therapy care rendered under his/her supervision or direction. Both direction and supervision include, when appropriate, observation of the application of physical therapy procedures, conferences related to patient progress, verbal and written reports.
(2) Definitions.
(a) Direction means the action of the
physical therapist in delegating duties to a physical therapist assistant,
maintaining close communication with the physical therapist assistant, and
overseeing the physical therapist assistant's activities on a frequent
regularly scheduled basis.
(b)
Supervision means the direct onsite overseeing of the performance of assigned
or delegated duties or functions.
(c) Diagnosis for physical therapy means the
identification of functional limitations and/or impairments and/or disabilities
which are used to guide physical therapy treatments. It is not a medical
diagnosis or the identification of a disease.
(3) Roles and Responsibilities, Specifically.
(a) Physical Therapist. The roles and
responsibilities of a person licensed by this Board or privileged to practice
physical therapy in the State of Alabama generally are:
1. To interpret a practitioner's
referral.
2. To perform and
document the initial evaluation, as well as the physical therapy plan of care
which may include:
(i) Diagnosis rendered by
the referring or previously diagnosing health care provider
(ii) Diagnosis for physical therapy
(iii) Presenting problems
(iv) Past medical history including, but not
limited to, conditions for which patient is taking medication and conditions
which are currently being treated by a physician
(v) List of medications being taken by the
patient
(vi) Objective findings of
the physical therapy evaluation
(vii) Assessment as to what the current
problem(s) is/are that require physical therapy intervention
(viii) Goals, both short-term and long-term
if appropriate
(ix) Physical
therapy plan of treatment including frequency and duration
3. A Physical Therapist will not be
disciplined for accepting a referral from a licensed assistant to a physician
acting pursuant to a valid supervisory agreement or a licensed certified
registered nurse practitioner in a valid collaborative practice agreement with
a licensed physician as long as the physical therapist has a reasonable good
faith belief that the assistant to a physician is acting pursuant to a valid
supervisory agreement or the nurse practitioner is in a valid collaborative
practice agreement with a licensed physician.
4. To identify and document precautions,
special problems, contraindications, anticipated progress, and plans for
reevaluation.
5. To implement and
supervise that program.
6. To
select and delegate the appropriate portions of the treatment plan and
program.
7. To delegate only those
patient care duties to supportive personnel who are qualified under the
provisions of these rules to perform such duties.
8. To reevaluate the patient and adjust the
treatment plan, perform the final evaluation of the patient and discharge
planning.
9. To designate or
establish channels of written and oral communication.
10. To maintain adequate records of the case
and report to appropriate sources.
11. To direct no more than four licensed
physical therapist assistants at one time.
12. To refuse to carry out treatment
procedures that they believe to be not in the best interest of the
patient.
13. To provide supervision
of physical therapist and/or physical therapist assistant students who are on
clinical experiences approved by their school as part of their Commission on
Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) approved educational
program.
(b) Physical
Therapist Assistant. When using an abbreviated title, the physical therapist
assistant should use the letters PTA. The roles and responsibilities of a
person licensed by this Board to practice as a physical therapist assistant in
the State of Alabama generally are:
1. To
practice only under the direction of a physical therapist licensed to practice
in the State of Alabama.
2. To
assist with but not perform patient disability evaluations.
3. To perform treatment procedures as
delegated by the physical therapist but not to initiate or alter a treatment
plan.
4. To supervise other
supportive personnel as charged by the physical therapist.
5. To notify the physical therapist of
changes in patient's status, including all untoward patient
responses.
6. To discontinue
immediately any treatment procedures which in their judgment appear to be
harmful to the patient.
7. To
refuse to carry out treatment procedures that they believe to be not in the
best interest of the patient.
8. To
provide supervision of physical therapist assistant students who are on
clinical experiences approved by their school as part of their CAPTE approved
educational program.
(c)
Physical Therapy Aide. The roles and responsibilities of physical therapy aides
in physical therapy care are to perform patient related support duties that do
not require decision making skills of a licensee.
Author: Robert L. Shoemake, Andy Gustafson, Ron Bass, Mitzi Watson, Jay Segal, John Cormier, Vince Molyneux, Eric Dekle, Matt Bledsoe, Kathy Miller
Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 34-24-191, 34-24-193, 34-24-220.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Alabama may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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