Idaho Admin. Code r. 24.13.01.200

Current through September 2, 2024

Section 24.13.01.200 - PRACTICE STANDARDS

01.Scope of Practice. Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants must possess the education, training, and experience within their scope of practice to perform physical therapy tasks.

02.Supervision. Supervision is oversight of a person by a licensed physical therapist when the licensed physical therapist is immediately available in person, by telephone, or by electronic communication to assist the person. 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.

a. Procedures and Interventions Performed Exclusively by Physical Therapists. The following procedures and interventions shall be performed exclusively by a physical therapist:

i. Interpretation of a referral for physical therapy if a referral has been received.

ii. Performance of the initial patient evaluation and problem identification including a diagnosis for physical therapy and a prognosis for physical therapy.

iii. 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.

iv. 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.

v. 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.

vi. 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.

vii. Performance and documentation of a discharge evaluation and summary of the physical therapy treatment plan.

03.Supervision of Physical Therapist Assistants. A physical therapist assistant must be supervised by a physical therapist by no less than telecommunication.

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.

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.

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 physical therapist's assessment must be documented in the patient record.

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.

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.

04.Supervision of Supportive Personnel. Any routine physical therapy tasks performed by supportive personnel requires a physical therapist's or physical therapist assistant's direct and continuous physical presence and availability to render direction, in person on the premises where physical therapy is being provided. The physical therapist or physical therapist assistant must have direct contact with the patient during each session and assess patient response to delegated treatment.

05.Supervision of Physical Therapist and Physical Therapist Assistant Students. Supervision of physical therapist students and physical therapist assistant students requires availability of the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant to render direction in person and on the premises where physical therapy is being provided.

a. 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.

b. 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.

Idaho Admin. Code r. 24.13.01.200

Effective July 1, 2024