As used in this chapter:

1. (1) “Applicant” means an individual who applies to be licensed under this chapter.
2. (2) “Board” means the Board of Occupational Therapy Practice established in this chapter.
3. (3) “Division” means the Division of Professional Regulation.

4. (4) “Dry needling” means an intervention that meets the following criteria:

   1. a. Uses a thin filiform needle to penetrate the skin and stimulate underlying muscular tissue, connective tissues, and myofascial trigger points for the management of neuromusculoskeletal pain and movement impairments.
   2. b. Is based upon Western medical concepts.
   3. c. Requires an occupational therapy examination and diagnosis.
5. (5) “Excessive use or abuse of drugs or alcohol” or “excessively uses or abuses drugs or alcohol” means any use of narcotics, controlled substances, or illegal drugs without a prescription from a licensed physician, or the abuse of alcoholic beverage such that it impairs a person’s ability to perform the work of an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant.
6. (6) “Licensee” means an individual licensed under this chapter to practice occupational therapy services.
7. (7) “Occupational therapist” means a person who is licensed to practice occupational therapy under this chapter and offers such services to the public under any title incorporating the words “occupational therapy,” “occupational therapist,” or any similar title or description of occupational therapy services.
8. (8) “Occupational therapy assistant” means a person licensed to assist in the practice of occupational therapy under the supervision of an occupational therapist.

9. (9) a. “Occupational therapy services” includes any of the following:

   1. 1. The assessment, treatment, and education of or consultation with an individual, family, or other persons.
   2. 2. Interventions directed toward developing, improving, or restoring daily living skills, work readiness or work performance, play skills, or leisure capacities, or enhancing educational performance skills.
   3. 3. Providing for the development, improvement, or restoration of sensorimotor, oralmotor, perceptual or neuromuscular functioning, or emotional, motivational, cognitive, or psychosocial components of performance.
   4. b. “Occupational therapy services” or “practice of occupational therapy” may require assessment of the need for use of interventions such as the design, development, adaptation, application, or training in the use of assistive technology devices; the design, fabrication, or application of rehabilitative technology such as selected orthotic devices; training in the use of assistive technology, orthotic or prosthetic devices; the application of thermal agent modalities, including paraffin, hot and cold packs, and fluido therapy, as an adjunct to, or in preparation for, purposeful activity; the use of ergonomic principles; the adaptation of environments and processes to enhance functional performance; dry needling; or the promotion of health and wellness.
   5. c. [Repealed.]
10. (10) “Person” means a corporation, company, association, partnership, or an individual.
11. (11) “Practice of occupational therapy” means the use of goal-directed activities with individuals who are limited by physical limitations due to injury or illness, psychiatric and emotional disorders, developmental or learning disabilities, poverty and cultural differences, or the aging process, in order to maximize independence, prevent disability, and maintain health.
12. (12) “Substantially related” means the nature of the criminal conduct for which a person was convicted has a direct bearing on the fitness or ability to perform 1 or more of the duties or responsibilities necessarily related to the practice of occupational therapy.
13. (13) “Supervision” means the interactive process between a licensed occupational therapist and an occupational therapy assistant, and requires more than a paper review or cosignature. “Supervision” means that the supervising occupational therapist is responsible for insuring the extent, kind, and quality of the services that the occupational therapy assistant renders.
14. (14) “Trigger points” means hyperirritable spots in skeletal muscle that are associated with palpable nodules in taut bands of muscle fibers. They can give rise to local or referred pain, autonomic phenomenon, and can cause limitations in range of motion and muscle activation.

65 Del. Laws, c. 172, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 71 Del. Laws, c. 293, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 262, § 37; 80 Del. Laws, c. 80, § 11; 81 Del. Laws, c. 424, § 2; 82 Del. Laws, c. 261, §§ 9, 16; 83 Del. Laws, c. 52, § 12; 85 Del. Laws, c. 459, § 3