New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 13 - LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY
Chapter 39A - STATE BOARD OF PHYSICAL THERAPY
Subchapter 2 - PRACTICE AS A LICENSED PHYSICAL THERAPIST AND LICENSED PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT
Section 13:39A-2.1 - Definitions
The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
"Clinically supported" means that a licensee, prior to selecting, performing or ordering the administration of a diagnostic test, has:
1. Personally performed a physical examination, making an assessment of any current and/or historical subjective complaints, observations, objective findings, neurological indications;
2. Considered any and all previously performed tests relating to the patient's medical condition and the results; and
3. Documented in the patient record positive and negative findings, observations and medical indications to justify the test.
"Diagnostic testing" means a medical service utilizing biomechanical, neurological, neurodiagnostic, radiological, vascular or any means, other than bioanalysis, intended to assist in establishing a physical therapy diagnosis, for the purpose of recommending a course of treatment for the tested patient to be performed consistent with the Physical Therapy Practice Act, N.J.S.A. 45:9-37.11 et seq., and this chapter.
"Direct supervision" means the presence of the supervising licensed physical therapist on site, available to respond to any consequence occurring during any treatment procedure.
"Disability" means the inability to engage in age specific, gender related, or sex specific roles in a particular social context and physical environment.
"Functional limitations" means restrictions of the ability to perform a physical action, activity or task in an efficient, typically expected or competent manner.
"General supervision" means supervision by a physical therapist in which the supervising physical therapist is available at all times by telecommunications but is not required to be on-site for direction and supervision. The supervising physical therapist shall assess, on an ongoing basis, the ability of the physical therapist assistant to perform the selected interventions as directed.
"Impairment" means the loss or abnormality of physiological, psychological, or anatomical structure or function.
"Physical therapy diagnosis" means a description placed on a group of signs and symptoms that are identified as a result of the examination and evaluative process. The purpose of the diagnostic determination is to allow the licensed physical therapist to select the appropriate physical therapy intervention(s) to initiate the most effective care for the purpose of achieving the patient's goals.
"Physical therapy evaluation" means a review exclusively by a licensed physical therapist based on data and information collected during the examination and before any intervention. The evaluation reflects the chronicity and severity of the current patient problem and the possibility of multisystem and multisite involvement that may coexist with preexisting systemic conditions or diseases. The evaluation considers the level of the current impairment(s), functional limitation(s) and disability(ies), the living environment, potential discharge destination(s) and social support(s). A "physical therapy evaluation" does not include examining any person for the purpose of diagnosing any disease or organic condition.
"Physical therapy examination" means an inquiry conducted by a licensed physical therapist into the patient history, relevant systems review, and tests and measurements, which is conducted prior to any intervention. The history is an account of past and current health status. The system review is an examination that provides information about the general health of the patient that helps the licensed physical therapist determine physical therapy diagnosis, a prognosis and a plan of care. Tests and measurements are performed by the licensed physical therapist after review of the patient's history and systems reviewed to elicit additional information.
"Physical therapy instruction" means the act of providing consultative, educational or advisory services to one or more individuals for the purpose of preventing or reducing physical dysfunction and disability that may lead to reduced functional abilities.
"Physical therapy and physical therapy practice" mean the identification of physical impairment, movement-related functional limitation, or balance disorder that occurs as a result of injury or congenital or acquired disability or other physical dysfunction through examination, evaluation, and diagnosis of the physical impairment or movement-related functional limitation and the establishment of a prognosis, which includes the establishment of the plan of care and all interventions, for the resolution or amelioration thereof and treatment of the physical impairment or movement-related functional limitation, which shall include, but is not limited to, the alleviation of pain, physical impairment, and movement-related functional limitation by physical therapy intervention, including treatment by means of:
1. Manual therapy techniques and massage;
2. Electro-therapeutic modalities;
3. Wound debridement and care pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:39A-2.2A;
4. The use of physical agents, mechanical modalities, hydrotherapy, therapeutic exercises with or without assistive devices;
5. Neurodevelopmental procedures;
6. Joint mobilization;
7. Movement-related functional training in self-care;
8. Providing assistance in community and work integration or reintegration;
9. Providing training in techniques for the prevention of injury, impairment, movement-related functional limitation, or dysfunction;
10. Providing consultative, educational, other advisory services; and
11. Collaboration with other health care providers in connection with patient care.
"Physical therapy and physical therapy practice" also includes the screening, examination, evaluation, and application of interventions for the promotion, improvement, and maintenance of fitness, health, wellness, and prevention services in populations of all ages exclusively related to physical therapy practice.
"Physical therapy intervention" means the interaction of the licensed physical therapist with the patient using various physical therapy procedures and techniques to produce changes in the condition consistent with the patient's dysfunction, disability, or level of function and consistent with the patient's projected outcome as a result of physical therapy intervention. When physical therapy instruction is provided to an individual as part of his or her therapeutic interventions, the instruction must be considered part of physical therapy intervention.
"Physical therapy prognosis" means the determination of the predicted level of optimal improvement that may be attained through intervention and the amount of time required to reach that level.
"Plan of care" means the specific physical therapy interventions to be used and their timing and frequency.
"Referral" means the forwarding of a patient for professional services by one health care professional to another health care professional or health care entity which provides or supplies professional service, or the request for establishment of a plan of care by a health care professional, including the provision of professional services or other health care devices.
"Wound debridement and care" means the removal of loosely adhered necrotic and nonviable tissue by a physical therapist to promote healing, done in conjunction with a physician or podiatric physician as required by N.J.A.C. 13:39A-2.2A.
