North Carolina Administrative Code
Title 21 - OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
Chapter 64 - SPEECH AND LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS AND AUDIOLOGISTS
Section .1000 - REQUIREMENTS FOR THE USE OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY ASSISTANTS IN DIRECT SERVICE DELIVERY IN NORTH CAROLINA
Section 64 .1004 - AUTHORIZED TASKS OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY ASSISTANTS
Universal Citation: 21 NC Admin Code 64 .1004
Current through Register Vol. 39, No. 6, September 16, 2024
(a) Direct Patient Services:
(1) Obtaining case histories from patients
and/or families and completing observation checklists.
(2) Administering speech-language screening
protocols, as directed by the supervising speech-language pathologist. These
screening procedures, including tests and checklists or parts of tests and
checklists, will have the purpose of determining the need for further
(diagnostic) testing by the supervising speech-language pathologist and must
meet the following criteria:
(A) Have
unambiguous administration protocols and methods.
(B) Consist of test items which require no
more than a binary judgment (i.e., yes-no, present-absent).
(C) Require no more than a
specifically-elicited single response.
(D) Require no clinical interpretation by the
assistant.
(3)
Administering therapeutic protocols, provided that all of the following
criteria are met:
(A) Supervision provided by
the supervising speech-language pathologist(s) according to the supervision
standards of the rules.
(B)
Utilizing appropriate stimuli according to a specified protocol determined by
the supervising speech-language pathologist(s).
(C) Recording specific target
behaviors.
(D) Reinforcing the
patient=s responses appropriately following a specified protocol
(E) Providing appropriate cues following a
specified protocol when the patient does not produce a correct
response.
(F) Summarizing
observations of the patient's performance for the supervising speech-language
pathologist(s).
(4)
Tabulating/scoring screening results, target behaviors, and performance
data.
(5) Managing the behavior of
patients using behavioral management techniques, as directed by the supervising
speech-language pathologist, to establish and maintain appropriate social
interaction and motivation/attention to task.
(6) Preparing or positioning patients for
evaluation or treatment following specific guidelines of the supervising
speech-language pathologist and of the facility.
(7) Communicating with patients, families,
and professionals in order to respond appropriately and effectively to
patient/family emotional needs and to alert the speech-language pathologist of
any problems which may affect treatment outcomes or service quality.
(8) Documenting written/verbal communication
with patients, parents, families and educational or medical personnel on the
above or related management issues, as directed by the supervising
speech-language pathologist.
(9)
Direct patient services for evaluation are not within the approved scope of
responsibilities for assistants.
(10) Demonstration projects will be
authorized by the Board to develop safe and effective swallowing protocols for
speech-language pathology assistants.
(b) Indirect Patient Services:
(1) Organizing and managing patient data and
patient records, including the following examples:
(A) Documenting historical information in
sequence (e.g., chronologically).
(B) Listing missing information.
(C) Confirming, obtaining, and documenting
orders/permissions.
(D) Obtaining
patient records from external agencies.
(E) Recording patient information from
medical or educational records.
(F)
Compiling session-to-session data and compiling/comparing outcome
data.
(G) Tallying scores on
standardized and criterion-referenced tests which require no clinical
interpretation by the assistant.
(H) Calculating/determining percentages,
frequencies, averages, percentiles, standard scores, etc. from raw data or
reference manuals.
(I) Graphing
performance data.
(J) Providing a
clear, legible record of patient/client performance.
(K) Administering and profiling patient
satisfaction measurements.
(L)
Assigning/verifying communication disorder and procedure codes.
(M) Scheduling/confirming patent
appointments.
(N) Recording
treatment and procedure times.
(2) Transporting or escorting patients
to/from the testing or therapy area.
(3) Arranging the clinical or treatment
setting to maintain a safe and positive environment by providing appropriate
seating, providing age-appropriate and culturally appropriate material or toys,
and adjusting light and temperature.
(A)
Creating materials and/or games to be used during therapy.
(B) Assisting patients/families to obtain and
organize materials needed for treatment programs.
(4) Managing, operating, programming, and/or
monitoring clinical equipment and materials, including the following:
- Assistive listening devices
- Augmentative communication devices
- Voice equipment
- Audio recording equipment
- Other audiovisual equipment
- Computer-based equipment and software
(A) Setting up equipment and materials for
feeding and swallowing sessions.
(B) Setting up other clinical equipment or
materials for tasks.
(C) Verifying
safety status of equipment.
(D)
Maintaining equipment records.
(5) Cleaning equipment, reusable materials,
and treatment/work areas using appropriate infection control
procedures.
(6) Adhering to the
principles of universal precautions when providing services to
patients/clients.
(c) Requirements For Providing Services Ethically and Responsibly:
(1) Maintaining patient confidentiality and
security of patient records.
(2)
Respecting the rights and dignity of all individuals.
(3) Reporting any workplace conduct which
appears to be unethical or illegal to the supervising speech-language
pathologist or to the Board of Examiners.
(4) Requesting assistance from the
supervising speech-language pathologist, as needed, in order to ensure
continuous service quality.
(5)
Observing universal precautions and safety procedures.
(6) Releasing patients only to the care of
appropriate caregivers.
(d) Participating in Research Activities:
(1) Categorizing task-related
materials.
(2) Obtaining
parent/patient permission forms.
(3) Conducting computer and literature
searches.
(4) Encoding and
analyzing data.
(5) Establishing
reliability.
(6) Filing research
information.
(e) Administrative and Clerical Tasks:
(1)
Operating office equipment such as word processors, copying machines,
laminating machines, fax machines, telephone and voice mail, e-mail,
etc.
(2) Copying and sending
reports, as appropriate.
(3)
Documenting telephone calls and meetings.
(4) Operating and using scheduling,
reporting, test scoring software, etc.
(5) Ordering and maintaining supplies and
materials.
(6) Organizing and
filing patient handouts and educational material.
(7) Verifying insurance coverage, filing
insurance claims, and following up on denied claims.
Authority
G.S.
90-298.1;
90-304(a)(3);
Eff. July 1, 1998;
Pursuant to
G.S.
150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without
substantive public interest Eff. October 4,
2016.
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