§2272. Definitions






As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms
have the following meanings. [1997, c. 294, §2 (RPR).]








1. ACOTE. 
"ACOTE" means the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education, a nationally
recognized accrediting agency for professional programs in the field of occupational
therapy.


[
1997, c. 294, §2 (RPR)
.]








2. AOTA. 
"AOTA" means the American Occupational Therapy Association.


[
1997, c. 294, §2 (RPR)
.]








3. Board. 
"Board" means the Board of Occupational Therapy Practice established under this
chapter.


[
1997, c. 294, §2 (RPR)
.]








4. Certification examination. 
"Certification examination" means the certification examination for a registered
occupational therapist or the certification examination for certified occupational
therapy assistant, both of which are administered by NBCOT.


[
1997, c. 294, §2 (RPR)
.]








5. Certified occupational therapy assistant. 
"Certified occupational therapy assistant" means an individual who has passed the
certification examination of the National Board for Certification in Occupational
Therapy for an occupational therapy assistant or who was certified as an occupational
therapy assistant prior to June 1977 and who is licensed to practice occupational
therapy under this chapter in the State under the supervision of an occupational therapist.





A.
[1997, c. 294, §2 (RP).]










B.
[1997, c. 294, §2 (RP).]










C.
[1997, c. 294, §2 (RP).]







[
1997, c. 294, §2 (RPR)
.]








6. Commissioner. 
"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Professional and Financial Regulation.


[
1997, c. 294, §2 (RPR)
.]








7. Department. 
"Department" means the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation.


[
1997, c. 294, §2 (RPR)
.]








7-A. Occupational therapy practitioner. 




[
1997, c. 683, Pt. B, §18 (RAL)
.]








8. Developing programs. 
"Developing programs" means programs that submitted a letter of intent to seek accreditation
by ACOTE prior to December 1, 1994.


[
1997, c. 294, §2 (RPR)
.]








9. Level II fieldwork. 
"Level II fieldwork" means the experience required to prepare occupational therapy
and occupation therapy assistant students to carry out professional responsibilities
under appropriate supervision and professional role modeling.


A minimum of 6 months, or 940 hours, of level II fieldwork is required for occupational
therapy educational programs.


A minimum of 12 weeks, or 440 hours, of level II fieldwork is required for occupational
therapy assistant educational programs.


[
1997, c. 294, §2 (NEW)
.]








10. NBCOT. 
"NBCOT" means the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, formerly
the AOTCB, or American Occupational Therapy Certification Board.


[
1997, c. 294, §2 (NEW)
.]








11. Occupational therapist. 
"Occupational therapist" means an individual who has passed the certification examination
of the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy for an occupational
therapist or meets the requirements of section 2279, subsection 6 and who is licensed
to practice occupational therapy under this chapter in the State.


[
1997, c. 294, §2 (NEW)
.]








12. Occupational therapy. 
"Occupational therapy" means the assessment, planning and implementation of a program
of purposeful activities to develop or maintain adaptive skills necessary to achieve
the maximal physical and mental functioning of the individual in the individual's
daily pursuits. The practice of "occupational therapy" includes, but is not limited
to, assessment and treatment of individuals whose abilities to cope with the tasks
of living are threatened or impaired by developmental deficits, the aging process,
learning disabilities, poverty and cultural differences, physical injury or disease,
psychological and social disabilities or anticipated dysfunction, using:





A. Treatment techniques such as task-oriented activities to prevent or correct physical
or emotional deficits or to minimize the disabling effect of these deficits in the
life of the individual; [1997, c. 294, §2 (NEW).]










B. Assessment techniques such as assessment of cognitive and sensory motor abilities,
assessment of the development of self-care activities and capacity for independence,
assessment of the physical capacity for prevocational and work tasks, assessment of
play and leisure performance and appraisal of living areas for the disabled; and [1997, c. 294, §2 (NEW).]










C. Specific occupational therapy techniques such as daily living skill activities,
the fabrication and application of splinting devices, sensory motor activities, the
use of specifically designed manual and creative activities, guidance in the selection
and use of adaptive equipment, specific exercises to enhance functional performance
and treatment techniques for physical capabilities for work activities. [1997, c. 294, §2 (NEW).]







The techniques may be applied in the treatment of individuals or groups.

[
1997, c. 294, §2 (NEW)
.]








12-A. Occupational therapy practitioner. 
"Occupational therapy practitioner" means an individual who is licensed as an occupational
therapist registered or a certified occupational therapy assistant, both of whom are
licensed occupational therapy practitioners under this chapter.


[
1999, c. 386, Pt. I, §1 (AMD)
.]








13. Person. 
"Person" means any individual, partnership, unincorporated organization or corporation.


[
1997, c. 294, §2 (NEW)
.]








14. Supervision of COTA. 
"Supervision of COTA" means initial directions and periodic inspection of the service
delivery and provision of relevant in-service training. The supervising licensed
occupational therapist shall determine the frequency and nature of the supervision
to be provided based on the clients' required level of care and the COTA's caseload,
experience and competency.


[
1997, c. 294, §2 (NEW)
.]








15. Supervision of temporary licensees. 
"Supervision of temporary licensees" includes initial and periodic inspection or
written assessments, written treatment plans, patient notes and periodic evaluation
of performance. The reviews and evaluations must be conducted in person by a licensed
occupational therapist.


[
1997, c. 294, §2 (NEW)
.]





SECTION HISTORY

1983, c. 746, §2 (NEW).
1991, c. 509, §9 (AMD).
RR 1993, c. 1, §87 (COR).
1997, c. 212, §1 (AMD).
1997, c. 294, §2 (RPR).
1997, c. 683, §B18 (AMD).
1999, c. 386, §I1 (AMD).