California Code of Regulations
Title 16 - Professional and Vocational Regulations
Division 39 - Board of Occupational Therapy
Article 9 - Supervision Standards
Section 4181 - Supervision Parameters

Universal Citation: 16 CA Code of Regs 4181

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 12, March 22, 2024

(a) Appropriate supervision of an occupational therapy assistant includes, at a minimum:

(1) The weekly review of the occupational therapy plan and implementation and periodic onsite review by the supervising occupational therapist. The weekly review shall encompass all aspects of occupational therapy services and be completed by telecommunication or onsite.

(2) Documentation of the supervision, which shall include either documentation of direct client care by the supervising occupational therapist, documentation of review of the client's medical and/or treatment record and the occupational therapy services provided by the occupational therapy assistant, or co-signature of the occupational therapy assistant's documentation.

(3) The supervising occupational therapist shall be readily available in person or by telecommunication to the occupational therapy assistant at all times while the occupational therapy assistant is providing occupational therapy services.

(4) The supervising occupational therapist shall provide periodic on-site supervision and observation of client care rendered by the occupational therapy assistant.

(b) The supervising occupational therapist shall at all times be responsible for all occupational therapy services provided by an occupational therapy assistant, a limited permit holder, a student or an aide. The supervising occupational therapist has continuing responsibility to follow the progress of each client, provide direct care to the client, and assure that the occupational therapy assistant, limited permit holder, student or aide do not function autonomously.

(c) The level of supervision for all personnel is determined by the supervising occupational therapist whose responsibility it is to ensure that the amount, degree, and pattern of supervision are consistent with the knowledge, skill and ability of the person being supervised.

(d) Occupational therapy assistants may supervise:

(1) Level I occupational therapy students;

(2) Level I and Level II occupational therapy assistant students; and

(3) Aides providing non-client related tasks.

(e) The supervising occupational therapist shall determine that the occupational therapy practitioner possesses a current license or permit to practice occupational therapy prior to allowing the person to provide occupational therapy services.

1. New section filed 10-26-2004; operative 11-25-2004 (Register 2004, No. 44).
2. Amendment of subsections (a)(1)-(3), new subsection (a)(4) and amendment of subsection (e) filed 3-4-2009; operative 4-3-2009 (Register 2009, No. 10).
3. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (e) filed 6-25-2013 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2013, No. 26).

Note: Authority cited: Sections 2570.13 and 2570.20, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 2570.2, 2570.3, 2570.4, 2570.5, 2570.6 and 2570.13, Business and Professions Code.

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