TITLE 5

Businesses and Professions

CHAPTER 5-40.1

Occupational Therapy

SECTION 5-40.1-3



   § 5-40.1-3  Definitions. –

(a) "Administrator" means the administrator of the division of professional

regulation.



   (b) "Board" means the board of occupational therapy within

the division of professional regulation established pursuant to the provisions

of § 5-40.1-4.



   (c) "Chapter" refers to chapter 40.1 of this title, entitled

"Occupational Therapy", of the general laws of Rhode Island.



   (d) "Director" means the director of the Rhode Island

department of health.



   (e) "Division" means the division of professional regulation.



   (f)(1) "Occupational therapy" (OT) is the use of purposeful

activity or interventions designed to achieve functional outcomes which promote

health, prevent injury or disability, and develop, improve, sustain, or restore

the highest possible level of independence of any individual who has an injury,

illness, cognitive impairment, sensory impairment, psychosocial dysfunction,

mental illness, developmental or learning disability, physical disability, or

other disorder or condition.



   (2) Occupational therapy includes evaluation by means of

skilled observation of functional performance and/or assessment through the

administration and interpretation of standardized or non-standardized tests and

measurements.



   (g)(1) "Occupational therapy services" includes, but is not

limited to:



   (i) Evaluating and providing treatment in consultation with

the individual, family, or other appropriate persons;



   (ii) Interventions directed toward developing, improving,

sustaining, or restoring daily living skills, including self-care skills and

activities that involve interactions with others and the environment, work

readiness or work performance, play skills or leisure capacities or educational

performance skills;



   (iii) Developing, improving, sustaining, or restoring

sensory-motor, oral-motor, perceptual, or neuromuscular functioning; or

emotional, motivational, cognitive, or psychosocial components of performance;

and



   (iv) Educating the individual, family, or other appropriate

persons in carrying out appropriate interventions.



   (2) These services may encompass evaluating need; and

designing, developing, adapting, applying, or training in the use of assistive

technology devices; designing, fabricating or applying rehabilitative

technology, such as selected orthotic devices; training in the functional use

of orthotic or prosthetic devices; applying therapeutic activities, modalities,

or exercise as an adjunct to or in preparation for functional performance;

applying ergonomic principles; adapting environments and processes to enhance

daily living skills; or promoting health and wellness.



   (h) "Occupational therapist" means a person licensed to

practice occupational therapy under the provisions of this chapter and the

rules and regulations authorized by this chapter.



   (i) "Occupational therapy aide" means a person not licensed

pursuant to the statutes and rules applicable to the practice of occupational

therapy, who works under the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist

or occupational therapy assistant, who assists in the practice of occupational

therapy and whose activities require an understanding of occupational therapy,

but do not require professional or advanced training in the basic anatomical,

psychological, and social sciences involved in the practice of occupational

therapy.



   (j) "Occupational therapy assistant" means a person licensed

to practice occupational therapy under the provisions of this chapter and the

rules and regulations authorized by this chapter.



   (k) "Supervision" means that a licensed occupational

therapist or occupational therapy assistant is at all times responsible for

supportive personnel and students.



History of Section.

(P.L. 1984, ch. 356, § 1; P.L. 1997, ch. 350, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch.

310, § 34.)