Code of Massachusetts Regulations
259 CMR - BOARD OF REGISTRATION OF ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
Title 259 CMR 3.00 - Occupational therapists
Section 3.05 - Supervision of Personnel
Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024
Various types and methods of supervision should be used. These may include direct, face-to-face contact and indirect contact. Examples of supervision involving direct, fact-to-face contact include: observation, modeling, co-intervention, discussions, teaching, and instruction. Examples of supervision involving indirect contact include: telephone conversations, written correspondence, and electronic exchanges.
(1) Primary responsibility for occupational therapy services rendered by supportive personnel rests with the supervising occupational therapist.
(2) Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants must exercise their professional judgment when determining the number of personnel they can safely and effectively supervise to ensure that safe and appropriate care is provided at all times.
(3) Supervision of the Occupational Therapy Aide. Client-related activities may be delegated by the occupational therapist or the occupational therapy assistant only when the Occupational Therapy Aide has been trained and has demonstrated competency for the task, including equipment use, has been specifically instructed on how to carry out the task with the specific Client, and knows the precautions, signs and symptoms for the specific Client that indicate a need to seek assistance from the supervisor. The occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant supervisor should consider the following additional factors before delegating selected Client-related tasks to the Occupational Therapy Aide:
(4) Supervision of supportive personnel must be documented with the date, method of supervision used, nature and extent of supervision, and name and designation of all persons participating in the supervisory process. Documentation of the supervision of the Occupational Therapy Aide must be done at least weekly and more often as needed.