Physical Therapy, Board of

Physical Therapy, Board of

Chapter 6: Licensure and Registration Requirements

Effective Date: 04/07/1995 to 04/03/1996

Rule Type: Superceded Rules & Regulations

Reference Number: 062.0001.6.04071995

CHAPTER 6

LICENSURE AND REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

Section 1. Scope of Practice.

(a) Physical Therapist. Pursuant to W.S. 33-25-102 a physical therapist may participate in educational or evaluation activities without the authority, supervision, or prescription of a physician, dentist or podiatrist. Regardless of the setting in which the service is provided; the following shall be the sole responsibility of the physical therapist:

(i) Before initiating any individual intervention program designed to prevent, correct, alleviate or limit a physical disability, a physical therapist must obtain a prescription of a practitioner or be under the authority or supervision of a practitioner;

(ii) Interpretation of referrals when they are available;

(iii) Initial evaluation, including problem identification;

(iv) Development of a plan of care which is based on the initial evaluation and which includes the physical therapy treatment goals;

(v) Delegation and instruction of the services to be rendered by the physical therapist assistant, including, but not limited to, specific treatment program, precautions, special problems, or contraindicated procedures;

(vi) Timely review of treatment documentation and reevaluation of the patient, treatment goals and revision of the plan of care when indicated;

(vii) Accountability for documentation of physical therapy treatment and dissemination of written and oral reports; and,

(viii) When the physical therapist and physical therapist assistant are not continuously within the same physical setting, greater emphasis in directing the assistant must be placed upon oral and written reporting.

(b) Foreign-Trained Physical Therapist. Foreign-trained physical therapist applicants shall satisfactorily complete a period of service not to exceed one (1) year under the continuous direction and immediate supervision of a licensed physical therapist in a physical therapy setting or in an institution either of which have been approved by the Board. The Board may waive all or any portion of the required period of service based on a favorable written report provided by the applicant's direct supervisor.

(i) The scope of practice requirements are identical to those found in Section 1(a) of this Chapter except that:

(A) A supervising physical therapist shall be accessible by telecommunications to the temporary physical therapist at all times while treating patients.

(c) Physical Therapist Assistant. A Physical Therapist Assistant shall only practice under the supervision of a permanently licensed physical therapist.

(i) A supervising physical therapist shall be accessible by telecommunications to the physical therapist assistant at all times while treating patients.

(ii) An initial visit shall be made by a supervising physical therapist for evaluation of the patient and establishment of a plan of care.

(iii) A joint visit by a supervising physical therapist and physical therapist assistant shall be made on the first physical therapist assistant visit to the patient.

(iv) The ratio of supervising physical therapist to physical therapist assistants shall not exceed one (1) physical therapist to three (3) physical therapist assistants.

(v) At least once every thirty (30) days, there shall be a joint on-site visit or a treatment visit rendered by a supervising physical therapist at least once every thirty calendar days. Every six (6) physical therapist assistant visits or every thirty (30) days, a documented conference by a supervising physical therapist with the physical therapist assistant outlining current treatment goals and program modifications shall occur. A physical therapist shall make the final visit to terminate the plan of care.

(vi) A supervisory visit should include:

(A) A complete on-site functional assessment;

(B) On-site review of activities with appropriate revision or termination of plan of care; and

(C) Assessment of utilization of outside resources.