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PHYSICAL THERAPIST LICENSING BOARD
DIVISION 20
PHYSICAL THERAPIST AIDES
848-020-0000
Definitions
As used in this division:
(1) “Physical therapist
aide” or “aide” means a person who is not licensed as a physical
therapist or physical therapist assistant, who aids a physical therapist or physical
therapist assistant by performing treatment-related tasks or by performing non-treatment,
patient-related tasks. Although they may be providing services to a patient pursuant
to direction or instruction from a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant,
the following persons are not considered physical therapist aides:
(a) Educational or instructional
aides or assistants working in a school setting; or
(b) Nurses aides, restorative
aides or personal care assistants. Persons performing facility maintenance, equipment
assembly and maintenance, housekeeping, clerical, or other similar tasks are not
considered aides.
(2) “Physical therapist”
or “physical therapist assistant” includes a person who holds a temporary
permit issued under OAR 848-010-0026.
(3) “Treatment-related
task” means a physical therapy service rendered directly to a patient.
(4) “Non-treatment, patient-related
task” means a task related to preparation of treatment areas, transport of
patients, preparation of patients for treatment and other patient-related tasks.
(5) “Supervise”
means to provide the amount of personal direction, assistance, advice and instruction
necessary to reasonably assure that the supervisee provides the patient competent
physical therapy services, given the supervisor’s actual knowledge of the
supervisee’s ability, training and experiences. Additionally, supervision
of:
(a) A treatment-related task
requires that the supervising physical therapist or physical therapist assistant
be in the same building and within sight or earshot of the aide who is performing
the treatment-related task, such that the supervising physical therapist or physical
therapist assistant is immediately available at all times to provide in person direction,
assistance, advice, or instruction to the aide or the patient. A physical therapist
may delegate supervision of an aide to a physical therapist assistant;
(b) A non-treatment, patient-related
task requires that the supervising physical therapist or physical therapist assistant
be in the building where the aide is performing the task.
(6) “Authentication”
means the process by which the licensee reviews and validates the accuracy of the
record entry. By authenticating a record entry, the licensee certifies that the
services described were performed by the authenticating licensee or performed by
a person under that licensee’s supervision.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 688.160
Stats. Implemented: ORS 688.160
& 688.210
Hist.: PT 3-1994, f. &
cert. ef. 7-29-94; PTLB 4-2004, f. & cert. ef. 12-29-04; PTLB 1-2007, f. 3-13-07,
cert. ef. 4-1-07; PTLB 2-2013, f. 11-26-13, cert. ef. 1-1-14
848-020-0010
Eligibility Standards
A physical therapist aide shall:
(1) Be at least 18 years of age.
(2) Have received a high school diploma or equivalent.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 688.160
Stats. Implemented: ORS 688.160 & 688.210
Hist.: PT 3-1994, f. & cert. ef. 7-29-94; PTLB 4-2004, f. & cert. ef. 12-29-04
848-020-0030
Supervision; Delegation of Supervision; Professional Responsibility of Supervisors and Supervisees
(1) The physical therapist shall supervise the physical therapist aide in each treatment task and each non-treatment, patient-related task assigned to the aide. The supervising physical therapist may delegate to a physical therapist assistant supervision of the aide.
(2) A physical therapist or physical therapist assistant shall not permit an aide to perform a treatment-related task or a non-treatment, patient-related task except under the supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant. A licensee shall not permit an aide to administer a task that is prohibited under OAR 848-020-0060, and shall not permit an aide to administer a non-prohibited procedure or modality to a patient unless a licensee has previously administered the entire specific procedure or modality to the patient.
(3) A physical therapist or physical therapist assistant may supervise a maximum total of two physical therapist aides, when the aides are performing treatment-related tasks. In addition, a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant may supervise additional aides who are not performing treatment related tasks.
(4) Use of an aide to perform tasks as allowed by this rule shall not constitute a violation of OAR 848-045-0020(2)(s).
(5) A physical therapist or physical therapist assistant is responsible for the competent performance of tasks assigned to an aide whom the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant is supervising as provided in OAR 848-020-0000(5).
(6) A physical therapist assistant is always also professionally responsible for all acts and omissions of each aide under the physical therapist assistant's supervision.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 688.160
Stats. Implemented: ORS 688.160 & 688.210
Hist.: PT 3-1994, f. & cert. ef. 7-29-94; PTLB 4-2004, f. & cert. ef. 12-29-04; PTLB 4-2005, f. 12-29-05, cert. ef. 1-1-06; PTLB 2-2008, f. 12-16-08, cert. ef. 1-2-09
848-020-0040
Training
(1) Prior to allowing a physical therapist aide to perform any treatment-related task, the supervising physical therapist shall assure that the aide has undertaken 40 hours of on-the-job training as follows:
(a) A minimum of 10 hours of instruction on professional/medical ethics, patient confidentiality, universal precautions, body mechanics, physical medicine terminology and safety procedures;
(b) A minimum of 30 hours of instruction in the facility in areas appropriate to that particular physical therapy facility, including but not limited to precautions and contraindications for physical therapy treatments routinely provided at the facility, and supervised practical applications of appropriate treatment protocols and techniques. Changes in employment shall require another 30 hours of instruction appropriate to that facility;
(c) However, physical therapist or physical therapist assistant students, upon successful completion of the first year of study, may be employed as an aide with a minimum of 8 hours of instruction appropriate to that facility;
(d) A person who has successfully completed a CAPTE accredited physical therapist or physical therapist assistant program, may be employed as an aide with a minimum of 8 hours of instruction appropriate to that facility.
(2) The supervising physical therapist shall be responsible for documentation of the training for each aide, and shall maintain this documentation at the facility for a minimum of 5 years after termination of employment and make it available to the Board upon request. The supervising physical therapist also shall respond to any inquiry by the Board concerning the training provided to an aide. The aide training record shall include but not be limited to:
(a) Aide position description;
(b) Policies and procedures clearly stating the aide's duties, as set forth in OAR 848-020-0060;
(c) Training schedule, which includes but is not limited to:
(A) Start date for the training;
(B) Activity/description of training;
(C) Amount of time spent on training for each activity;
(D) Date training is complete;
(E) Names of instructors and aide, including signature of each instructor and aide;
(F) If applicable, documentation of training received outside of the facility in the form of a letter or copies of the previous training record. Documentation must include the level of responsibility of the aide.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 688.160
Stats. Implemented: ORS 688.160 & 688.210
Hist.: PT 3-1994, f. & cert. ef. 7-29-94; PT 5-1997, f. & cert. ef. 8-5-97; PTLB 4-2004, f. & cert. ef. 12-29-04
848-020-0050
Assignment of Tasks to Aides
(1) A supervising physical therapist or physical therapist assistant may assign treatment-related tasks and non-treatment, patient-related tasks to an aide.
(2) Prior to allowing an aide to perform any treatment-related task:
(a) The physical therapist must provide an initial evaluation of the patient and develop a plan of care;
(b) The physical therapist or physical therapist assistant shall assess the competence of the aide to perform an assigned treatment-related task for that patient in a safe and effective manner;
(c) The physical therapist or physical therapist assistant must assign only those tasks which are appropriate for the aide to perform for that patient based on the aide's training, experience and ability.
(3) When a treatment-related task is performed by an aide, the supervising physical therapist or physical therapist assistant shall, at some point during each treatment, provide direct service to the patient to assess and monitor the patient's progress, and so document in the patient's record.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 688.160
Stats. Implemented: ORS 688.160 & 688.210
Hist.: PT 3-1994, f. & cert. ef. 7-29-94; PTLB 4-2004, f. & cert. ef. 12-29-04
848-020-0060
Prohibited Treatment-Related Tasks
A physical therapist or physical therapist
assistant shall not permit an aide to perform any of the following treatment-related
tasks:
(1) Administer iontophoresis.
However, an aide who has been trained to do so may assist with iontophoresis by
applying the medication to the electrode so long as a physical therapist or physical
therapist assistant administers it to the patient.
(2) Administer phonophoresis.
However, an aide may operate the sound head if the physical therapist or physical
therapist assistant has applied the medication to the patient, determined the treatment
protocols and parameters, as provided in the plan of care, and authorizes the aide
to provide the treatment.
(3) Administer electrotherapy.
However an aide may perform this task if the physical therapist or physical therapist
assistant has examined the patient in person on the day of treatment and determined
the electrode placements, treatment protocols and parameters, as provided in the
plan of care, and authorizes the aide to provide the treatment.
(4) Administer ultrasound.
However an aide may perform this task if the physical therapist or physical therapist
assistant has examined the patient in person on the day of treatment and determined
the treatment protocols and parameters, as provided in the plan of care, and authorizes
the aide to provide the treatment.
(5) Administer mechanized
or manual traction.
(6) Perform manual stretching
with the goal of increasing range of motion, neuro-facilitation or cardiac therapeutic
exercise.
(7) Perform soft tissue mobilization
or massage (other than effleurage and petrissage). However, an aide who is separately
licensed or registered under another Oregon statute to do so may perform these tasks
if done under the direction and on-site supervision specified in OAR 848-020-0000(5)(a).
(8) Wound debridement.
(9) Administer tilt table
or standing frame. However an aide may perform these tasks if the physical therapist
or physical therapist assistant has examined the patient in person on the day of
treatment and determined the treatment protocols and parameters, as provided in
the plan of care, and authorizes the aide to provide the treatment.
(10) Joint mobilization or
manipulation.
(11) Determine or modify
a plan of care.
(12) Initiate or administer
a physical therapy intervention the first time that intervention is administered
or provided to a patient. This prohibition means that a physical therapist or physical
therapist assistant must provide or administer the entire specific intervention
before delegating that task to an aide.
(13) Independently make entries
in a patient record, except for objective information about the treatment provided
by the aide. The aide shall sign the record entry as provided in OAR 848-040-0150(2).
A physical therapist or physical therapist assistant may also dictate information
to an aide for entry into a patient medical record, so long as the physical therapist
or physical therapist assistant authenticates such entries.
(14) Instruct a patient or
a patient's caregiver in the application of any treatment.
(15) Except as required to
respond to an inquiry by the Board or other person authorized to receive the information,
answer or discuss any questions regarding a patient's status or treatment with anyone
other than the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 688.160
Stats. Implemented: ORS 688.160
& 688.210
Hist.: PT 3-1994, f. &
cert. ef. 7-29-94; PTLB 4-2004, f. & cert. ef. 12-29-04; PTLB 6-2005, f. 12-29-05,
cert. ef. 1-1-06; PTLB 2-2008, f. 12-16-08, cert. ef. 1-2-09; PTLB 2-2013, f. 11-26-13,
cert. ef. 1-1-14
The official copy of an Oregon Administrative Rule is
contained in the Administrative Order filed at the Archives Division,
800 Summer St. NE, Salem, Oregon 97310. Any discrepancies with the
published version are satisfied in favor of the Administrative Order.
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