A. Only a licensed occupational therapist shall:
- 1. Prepare an initial treatment plan, initiate or re-evaluate a client or patient’s treatment plan, or authorize in writing a change of a treatment plan;
- 2. Delegate duties to a licensed occupational therapy assistant, designate an assistant’s duties, and assign a level of supervision; and
- 3. Authorize a patient discharge.
B. A licensed occupational therapy assistant shall not:
- 1. Evaluate or develop a treatment plan independently;
- 2. Initiate a treatment plan before a client or patient is evaluated and a treatment plan is prepared by an occupational therapist;
- 3. Continue a treatment procedure appearing harmful to a patient or client until the procedure is reevaluated by an occupational therapist; or
- 4. Continue or discontinue occupational therapy services unless the treatment plan is approved or re-approved by a supervising occupational therapist.
C. A supervising occupational therapist shall supervise a licensed occupational therapy assistant as follows:
- 1. Not less than routine supervision if the occupational therapy assistant has less than 12 months work experience in a particular practice setting or with a particular skill.
- 2. Not less than general supervision if the occupational therapy assistant has more than 12 months but less than 24 months of experience in a particular practice setting or with a particular skill.
- 3. Not less than minimal supervision if an occupational therapy assistant has more than 24 months of experience in a particular practice setting or with a particular skill.
- 4. Increased level of supervision, if necessary, for the safety of a patient or client.
Historical Note
Emergency rule adopted effective December 12, 1991, pursuant to A.R.S. § 41-1026, valid for only 90 days (Supp. 91-4). Emergency rule adopted again effective March 11, 1992, pursuant to A.R.S. § 41-1026, valid for only 90 days (Supp. 92-1). Emergency rule adopted again effective June 5, 1992, pursuant to A.R.S. § 41-1026, valid for only 90 days (Supp. 92-2). Emergency expired. Emergency rule adopted again effective September 8, 1992, pursuant to A.R.S. § 41-1026, valid for only 90 days (Supp. 92-2). Adopted with changes effective October 14, 1992 (Supp. 92-4). Amended by final rulemaking at 6 A.A.R. 707, effective January 25, 2000 (Supp. 00-1).