A physical therapist shall supervise and be responsible for patient care given by physical therapist assistants, supportive personnel, physical therapy students, and physical therapist assistant students. (3-28-23)
01.Procedures and Interventions Performed Exclusively by Physical Therapist. The following procedures and interventions shall be performed exclusively by a physical therapist: (3-28-23)a. Interpretation of a referral for physical therapy if a referral has been received. (3-28-23)b. Performance of the initial patient evaluation and problem identification including a diagnosis for physical therapy and a prognosis for physical therapy. (3-28-23)c. Development or modification of a treatment plan of care which is based on the initial evaluation and which includes long-term and short-term physical therapy treatment goals. (3-28-23)d. Assessment of the competence of physical therapist assistants, physical therapy students, physical therapist assistant students, and supportive personnel to perform assigned procedures, interventions and routine tasks. (3-28-23)e. Selection and delegation of appropriate portions of treatment procedures, interventions and routine physical therapy tasks to the physical therapist assistants, physical therapy students, physical therapist assistant students, and supportive personnel. (3-28-23)f. Performance of a re-evaluation when any change in a patient's condition occurs that is not consistent with the physical therapy treatment plan of care, patient's anticipated progress, and physical therapy treatment goals. (3-28-23)g. Performance and documentation of a discharge evaluation and summary of the physical therapy treatment plan. (3-28-23)h. Performance of dry needling. (3-28-23)02.Supervision of Physical Therapist Assistants. A physical therapist assistant must be supervised by a physical therapist by no less standard than general supervision. (3-28-23) a. A physical therapist assistant must not change a procedure or intervention unless such change of procedure or intervention has been included within the treatment plan of care as set forth by a physical therapist. (3-28-23)b. A physical therapist assistant may not continue to provide treatment as specified under a treatment plan of care if a patient's condition changes such that further treatment necessitates a change in the established treatment plan of care unless the physical therapist assistant has consulted with the supervising physical therapist prior to the patient's next appointment for physical therapy, and a re-evaluation is completed by the supervising physical therapist. (3-28-23)c. The supervising physical therapist must provide direct personal contact with the patient and assess the plan of care on or before every ten (10) visits or once a week if treatment is performed more than once per day but no less often than once every sixty (60) days. The supervising therapist's assessment must be documented in the patient record. (3-28-23)d. A physical therapist assistant may refuse to perform any procedure, intervention, or task delegated by a physical therapist when such procedure, intervention, or task is beyond the physical therapist assistant's skill level or scope of practice standards. (3-28-23)e. A physical therapist is not required to co-sign any treatment related documents prepared by a physical therapist assistant, unless required to do so in accordance with law, or by a third-party. (3-28-23)03.Supervision of Supportive Personnel. Any routine physical therapy tasks performed by supportive personnel requires direct personal supervision. (3-28-23)04.Supervision of Physical Therapy and Physical Therapist Assistant Students. Supervision of physical therapy students and physical therapist assistant students requires direct supervision. (3-28-23)a. A physical therapy student is only supervised by the direct supervision of a physical therapist. (3-28-23)b. A physical therapy student is required to sign all treatment notes with the designation "SPT" after their name, and all such signatures require the co-signature of the supervising physical therapist. (3-28-23)c. A physical therapist assistant student is required to sign all treatment notes with the designation "SPTA" after their name, and all such signatures require the co-signature of the supervising physical therapist or supervising physical therapist assistant. (3-28-23)05.Supervision Ratios. (3-28-23)a. At any one time, the physical therapist may supervise up to a total of three supervised personnel, who are physical therapist assistants or supportive personnel. If the physical therapist is supervising the maximum of three supervised personnel at any one time, no more than two of the supervised personnel may be supportive personnel or physical therapist assistants. (3-28-23)b. In addition to the supervised personnel authorized in a. of this subsection, the physical therapist may supervise two persons engaging in direct patient care who are pursuing a course of study leading to a degree as a physical therapist or a physical therapist assistant. (3-28-23)Idaho Admin. Code r. 24.13.01.016