Wisconsin Administrative Code
Occupational Therapists Affiliated Credentialing Board
Chapter OT 4 - Practice And Supervision
Section OT 4.04 - Supervision and practice of occupational therapy assistants

Universal Citation: WI Admin Code ยง OT 4.04

Current through August 26, 2024

(1) An occupational therapy assistant must practice under the supervision of an occupational therapist. Supervision is an interactive process that requires both the occupational therapist and the occupational therapy assistant to share responsibility for communication between the supervisor and the supervisee. The occupational therapist is responsible for the overall delivery of occupational therapy services and shall determine which occupational therapy services to delegate to the occupational therapy assistant or non-licensed personnel based on the establishment of service competence between supervisor and supervisee, and is accountable for the safety and effectiveness of the services provided.

(2) Supervision of an occupational therapy assistant by an occupational therapist shall be either close or general. The supervising occupational therapist shall have responsibility for the outcome of the performed service.

(3) When close supervision is required, the supervising occupational therapist shall have daily contact on the premises with the occupational therapy assistant. The occupational therapist shall provide direction in developing the plan of treatment and shall periodically inspect the actual implementation of the plan. The occupational therapist shall cosign evaluation contributions and intervention documents prepared by the occupational therapy assistant.

(4)

(ad) In this subsection, "direct contact" means face-to-face communication or communication by means of telephone, electronic communication, or group conference.

(ah) When general supervision is allowed, the supervising occupational therapist shall, except as provided under par. (ap), have direct contact with the occupational therapy assistant and face-to-face contact with the client by every tenth session of occupational therapy and no less than once per calendar month.

(ap) When general supervision is allowed, and occupational therapy services are provided to a client once per calendar month or less frequently than once per calendar month, the supervising occupational therapist shall have direct contact with the occupational therapy assistant and face-to-face contact with the client no less than every other session of occupational therapy.

(at) Direct contact with the occupational therapy assistant under pars. (ah) and (ap) shall include reviewing the progress and effectiveness of treatment, and may occur simultaneously or separately from face-to-face contact with the client.

(b) The occupational therapist shall record in writing a specific description of the supervisory activities undertaken for each occupational therapy assistant. The written record shall include client name, status and plan for each client discussed.

(5) Close supervision is required for all rehabilitation, neonate, early intervention, and school system services provided by an entry level occupational therapy assistant. All other occupational therapy services provided by an occupational therapy assistant may be performed under general supervision, if the supervising occupational therapist determines, under the facts of the individual situation, that general supervision is appropriate using established professional guidelines.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Wisconsin 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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