Oklahoma Administrative Code
Title 435 - State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision
Chapter 20 - Physical Therapists and Assistants
Subchapter 1 - General Provisions
Section 435:20-1-1.1 - Definitions
The following words and terms, when used in this Chapter, shall have the following meaning, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Act" means the Physical Therapy Practice Act, unless otherwise specified.
"Alternate Supervising Physical Therapist" means the physical therapist who temporarily provides direct or general supervision of a physical therapist assistant or applicant for licensure in the absence of the supervising physical therapist and who will be identified in the medical record as the therapist of record.
"Board" means the Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision.
"CAPTE" means the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education.
"Committee" means the Physical Therapy Committee of the Board.
"Examination/Evaluation" means a comprehensive visit by the physical therapist, in the presence of the patient, to determine the plan of care, based on the physical therapist's clinical judgments, which are supported by the data gathered during the examination.
"Foreign-educated physical therapist" means a physical therapist who graduated from any physical therapy education program outside the United States.
"General supervision" means the responsible supervision and control of the practice of the licensed physical therapist assistant by the supervising physical therapist. The supervising therapist is regularly and routinely on-site, and every three months will provide a minimum of one (1) co-treatment of face to face, real time interaction with each physical therapist assistant providing services with his/her patients. These co-treatments will be documented in the medical record and on a supervision log, which is subject to inspection. When not on-site, the supervising therapist is on call and readily available physically or through direct telecommunication for consultation.
"Group Setting" means two or more physical therapists providing supervision to physical therapist assistants in the same practice setting or physical facility.
"Immediate Supervision" means the supervising physical therapist or physical therapist assistant is on the premises and in attendance when patient care is being delivered.
"On-site supervision" or "Direct supervision" means the supervising physical therapist is continuously on-site and present in the department or facility where services are provided, is immediately available to the person being supervised and maintains continued involvement in appropriate aspects of each treatment session in which assistive personnel are involved in components of care.
"Physical Therapist" means a licensed professional health care worker who is a graduate of a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education or approved successor organization, and who provides physical therapy services including evaluation, treatment program design/management/ modification, and supervision of delegated portions of a treatment program. The Physical Therapist is responsible and accountable for the overall use and actions of unlicensed personnel and Physical Therapist Assistant (s) under his/her supervision and control during a therapy session or service delivery, whether in person or by telehealth.
"Physical Therapist Assistant" means a licensed technically educated health care provider who is a graduate of a program accredited by an agency recognized by the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education or approved successor organization, and who performs selected physical therapy procedures and related tasks under the direction and supervision of a Physical Therapist.
"Physical Therapist of Record" means the physical therapist who assumes the responsibility for the provision and /or supervision of physical therapy services for a patient, delivered in person or by telehealth, and is held accountable for the coordination, continuation and progression of the plan of care.
"Physical Therapy Aide" means a person on-the-job trained and working under the immediate supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant who performs designated and supervised routine tasks as outlined in 435:20-7-1.
"Poses a reasonable threat" means the nature of criminal conduct for which the person was convicted involved an act or threat of harm against another and has a bearing on the fitness or ability to serve the public or work with others in the occupation.
"Practice Setting" means the type of service delivery such as acute care, outpatient, inpatient rehabilitation, long term care, home health, educational settings or DDSD.
"Re-examination/Re-evaluation/Assessment" means visits by the physical therapist, in the presence of the patient, to assess the patient's current status, gather additional data, and update the plan of care.
"Secretary" means the Secretary of the Board.
"Substantially relates" means the nature of criminal conduct for which the person was convicted has a direct bearing on the fitness or ability to perform one or more of the duties or responsibilities necessarily related to the occupation.
"Supervision" means the physical therapist is delegating portions of the patient's care to licensed personnel or applicants for licensure but remains accountable for the coordination, continuation and progression of the care of the patient.
"Supervising Physical Therapist" means the physical therapist of record who provides either direct or general supervision for a physical therapist assistant or applicant for licensure and delegates components of patient care to that person.
"Telehealth" means, and shall have, the same meaning as it does under 59 O.S. § 887.2(7).
"Telecommunication" means, and shall have, the same meaning as it does under 59 O.S. § 887.2(8).
Added at 9 Ok Reg 1581, eff 4-27-92; Amended at 15 Ok Reg 43, eff 9-10-97 (emergency); Amended at 15 Ok Reg 2026, eff 5-26-98; Amended at 26 Ok Reg 1080, eff 5-11-09
