Code of Massachusetts Regulations
259 CMR - BOARD OF REGISTRATION OF ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
Title 259 CMR 5.00 - Physical Therapists
Section 5.01 - Definitions

Accredited Educational Program. A program meeting the current requirements of the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

APTA. American Physical Therapy Association.

Authentication. Verification of accuracy of all services provided as documented and co-signed by the licensee.

Clinical Instructor. A licensed PT or PTA who is directly responsible for a PT or PTA student.

Evaluation. The ongoing process by which a physical therapist makes clinical judgments based on data gathered during the clinical examination process; the professional assessment of the data gathered and how the therapist utilizes the interpretation of the data to determine and develop their Plan of Care for the patient.

Examination. The examination for licensure of the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant currently approved by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy and accepted by the Board.

Patient. An individual who receives physical therapy care, attention, services or treatment. A Client is also considered synonymous with a Patient for the purpose of 259 CMR 5.01.

Physical Therapist of Record. The primary physical therapist who is responsible for providing and/or supervising of all care rendered to the patient/client. The Physical Therapist of Record will be considered the physical therapist who initially evaluated the patient and developed the patient's Plan of Care, unless otherwise designated in the record.

Physical Therapy Aide. A person not licensed in physical therapy who works under the direct supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant. This individual may also be known as a rehabilitation aide or some other similar title.

Physical Therapy Cooperative Education (PT Co-op) Student. A student who is actively enrolled and matriculating in an accredited educational program that utilizes the cooperative experience as part of its curriculum. PT Co-op Students may perform those duties of a Physical Therapy Aide and those competencies approved by their academic program, as agreed-upon by the Co-op site, and commensurate with their level of education within that program at the time of the coop experience. PT Co-op Students may only perform these functions when they are on a defined and time-based cooperative experience that is part of the CAPTE approved curricula. PT Co-op Students are not licensed to practice physical therapy and must work under the direct supervision of a physical therapist. Any Co-op Student not actively enrolled and matriculating in an accredited educational program, or not participating in a co-op experience that is part of the CAPTE approved PT curricula, including continuing to work following completion of the co-op experience, can only function as a Physical Therapy Aide.

Physical Therapy Student. A person who is registered in an accredited educational program and performs clinical duties, up to and including assessments under the direct supervision of a physical therapist. The supervising PT may be one of the clinical site's Clinical Instructors (CI) or the Center Clinical Coordinator of Education (CCCE) in coordination with the academic program's Director of Clinical Education (DCE). Any PT Student who is not supervised by the clinical site's CI or CCCE in coordination with the academic program's DCE, including continuing to work following completion of the academic program's supervised practice requirements, can only function as a Physical Therapy Aide. A PT Student may be called an intern. A PT Student does not possess a license to practice.

Physical Therapist Assistant Student. A person who is registered in an accredited educational program and performs clinical duties under the direct supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant who is one of the clinical site's Clinical Instructor (CI) or the Center Clinical Coordinator of Educator (CCCE) in coordination with the academic program's Director of Clinical Education (DCE)

Plan of Care. Written statements that specify the goals, the outcomes, and the predicted level of optimal improvement, specific interventions to be utilized and proposed type, amount, duration, and frequency of the interventions that are required to reach the stated goals and outcomes. The Plan of Care is based upon the results of the clinical examination and includes the anticipated discharge plan.