1. A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

2. B. Terms Defined.

   1. (1) “Didactic education” means an educational activity:

      1. (a) That includes a method of evaluating and testing the knowledge of the licensee relative to electrical physical agent modalities; and

      2. (b) Relevant to the practice of electrical physical agent modalities in occupational therapy including:

         1. (i) In-service education;
         2. (ii) Conferences;
         3. (iii) Workshops;
         4. (iv) Seminars;
         5. (v) Formal graduate academic education; or
         6. (vi) Formal undergraduate academic education.
   2. (2) “Direct clinical education” means supervised instruction provided on a face-to-face basis by the educator during the application of electrical physical agent modalities to a client.
   3. (3) “Educator” means an individual who has successfully met the competency requirements as set forth in this chapter and provides didactic or direct clinical education, or both, but does not need to be an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant.

   4. (4) Electrical Physical Agent Modalities.

      1. (a) “Electrical physical agent modalities” means therapeutic modalities which induce heat or electrical current beneath the skin.

      2. (b) “Electrical physical agent modalities” includes, but is not limited to:

         1. (i) Therapeutic ultrasound;
         2. (ii) Phonophoresis;
         3. (iii) Iontophoresis; and
         4. (iv) Electromuscular stimulation (FES), including biofeedback, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and laser light therapy.

   5. (5) “Superficial physical agent modalities” means therapeutic modalities including, but not limited to:

      1. (a) Hot packs;
      2. (b) Cold packs;
      3. (c) Paraffin;
      4. (d) Fluidotherapy; and
      5. (e) Icing.

Authority: Health Occupations Article, §10-101, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date:

Regulations .01—.06 adopted as an emergency provision effective June 1, 2001 (28:12 Md. R. 1102); adopted permanently effective September 17, 2001 (28:18 Md. R. 1621)

Chapter revised effective April 21, 2008 (35:8 Md. R. 805)

Regulation .01 amended effective May 17, 2010 (37:10 Md. R. 722)

Regulation .03B amended effective May 17, 2010 (37:10 Md. R. 722)

Regulation .04A, C amended effective May 17, 2010 (37:10 Md. R. 722)

Regulation .05B amended effective May 17, 2010 (37:10 Md. R. 722)

Regulation .06A amended effective May 17, 2010 (37:10 Md. R. 722)

Regulation .08A amended effective May 17, 2010 (37:10 Md. R. 722)

Chapter revised effective September 14, 2015 (42:18 Md. R. 1174)