1. (a) OTRs and LOTs are fully responsible for the planning and delivery of occupational therapy services. They may use non-licensed personnel to extend their services; however, the non-licensed personnel must be under the supervision of an occupational therapy practitioner.
2. (b) Close Personal Supervision implies direct, on-site contact whereby the supervising occupational therapy licensee is able to respond immediately to the needs of the patient. This type of supervision is required for non-licensed personnel providing support services to the occupational therapy practitioners.
3. (c) When occupational therapy practitioners delegate occupational therapy tasks to non-licensed personnel, the occupational therapy practitioners are responsible for ensuring that this person is adequately trained in the tasks delegated.
4. (d) The occupational therapy practitioners providing the treatment must interact with the patient regarding the patient's condition, progress, and/or achievement of goals during each treatment session.

5. (e) Delegation of tasks to non-licensed personnel includes but is not limited to:

   1. (1) routine department maintenance;
   2. (2) transportation of patients/clients;
   3. (3) preparation or set up of treatment equipment and work area;
   4. (4) assisting patients/clients with their personal needs during treatment;
   5. (5) assisting in the construction of adaptive/assistive equipment and splints. The licensee must be on-site and attending for any initial applications to the patient;
   6. (6) carrying out a predetermined segment or task in the patient's care for which the patient has demonstrated some previous performance ability in executing the task;

6. (f) The non-licensed personnel may not:

   1. (1) perform occupational therapy evaluative procedures
   2. (2) initiate, plan, adjust, or modify occupational therapy procedures.
   3. (3) act on behalf of the OTR or LOT in any matter relating to occupational therapy which requires decision making or professional judgements.

Source Note:The provisions of this §373.1 adopted to be effective January 9, 1995, 19 TexReg 10361; amended to be effective August 31, 1995, 20 TexReg 6337; amended to be effective May 8, 1996, 21 TexReg 3716; amended to be effective March 5, 1997, 22 TexReg 1898; amended to be effective November 4, 1997, 22 TexReg 10752; amended to be effective October 25, 1998, 23 TexReg 11167; amended to be effective July 22, 2001, 26 TexReg 5443; amended to be effective July 22, 2002, 27 TexReg 6546.