Oklahoma Administrative Code
Title 435 - State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision
Chapter 20 - Physical Therapists and Assistants
Subchapter 5 - Regulation of Practice
Section 435:20-5-11 - Telehealth regulations

Universal Citation: OK Admin Code 435:20-5-11

Current through Vol. 42, No. 1, September 16, 2024

(a) In order to provide physical therapy via telehealth defined in 435:20-1-1.1 of the Code, a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant providing services to a patient or client, physically located in Oklahoma, must have a valid and current Oklahoma Physical Therapist or Physical Therapist Assistant license, issued by State of Oklahoma.

(b) Provision of services via telehealth shall be synchronous.

(c) A physical therapist shall determine whether an in-person evaluation or in-person interventions are necessary in lieu of telehealth provision, considering: the complexity of the patient's/client's condition; the provider's own knowledge, skills and abilities; the nature and complexity of the intervention; the requirements of the practice setting; and the patient's/client's context and environment. The clinical documentation for the visit shall reflect:

(1) that the visit was rendered, by one or more parties, via telehealth; and

(2) all clinicians present, in person or via telehealth, during the visit.

(d) All legal, regulatory, and ethical rules applicable to the delivery of in-person physical therapy shall also apply to the delivery of physical therapy via telehealth technology.

(e) Audio and video equipment must allow for interactive, real-time communications which permit the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant and the patient to see and hear each other. Any telehealth technology used by any physical therapist or physical therapist assistant must comply with confidentiality requirements imposed by federal or state law concerning network connection security in place for video and non-video connections, specifically including requirements under HIPAA.

(f) A physical therapist or physical therapist assistant providing physical therapy services via telehealth shall:

(1) Exercise the same standard of care when providing physical therapy services via telehealth as with any other mode of delivery of physical therapy services;

(2) Provide physical therapy in a manner consistent with the standards of practice, ethical principles, and rules for Oklahoma physical therapy practitioners. Therefore, it is the physical therapy practitioner's responsibility to determine when a telehealth encounter is not the appropriate treatment model;

(3) Be proficient in the use of the telehealth technology.

(g) A physical therapist may utilize telehealth methods for routine and general supervision of Form 5-registered supervisees.

(h) While providing physical therapy to a patient using telehealth technology, physical therapist or physical therapist assistant students must follow the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) standards, academic program rules, and practice setting policies regarding the use of telehealth service delivery as well as follow all applicable supervision rules.

(i) Failure to comply with telehealth regulations shall be considered unprofessional conduct as set forth in 435:20-5-8 and 435:20-5-9. of Oklahoma Administrative Code and Section 887.13 of the Physical Therapy Practice Act.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Oklahoma may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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