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Alaska Physical Therapy Legal Definitions

Board - The State Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Board.

Continual On-Site Supervision - The supervising PT or PTA:

    • Is present in the department or facility where services are being provided;
    • Is immediately available to the non-licensed personnel being supervised; and
    • Maintains continual oversight of patient-related duties performed by the non-licensed personnel.

Internship - Postgraduate on-the-job training of PTs or PTAs, approved by the board.

Non-Licensed Personnel - Personnel who are:

    • Used by a licensed PT or PTA to deliver patient-related duties and non-patient related duties related to the practice of physical therapy; and
    • Trained under the direction of a licensed PT or PT to perform designated non-patient related duties and patient-related duties related to the practice of physical therapy;
    • Includes personnel who are referred to as "aides", "technicians", or "techs".

Non-Patient Related Duties - Clerical and maintenance activities and preparation of the work area or equipment.

Patient-Related Duties - Routine tasks that do not require the education, skill, and training of a PT or PTA, and for which the

    • Outcome anticipated for the task is predictable;
    • Situation of the patient and the environment is stable and will not require that judgment, interpretations, or adaptations be made by non-licensed personnel; and
    • Task routine and process have been clearly established.

Physical Therapist - A person who practices physical therapy.

Physical Therapy - The examination, treatment and instruction of human beings to detect, assess, prevent, correct, alleviate and limit physical disability, bodily malfunction, pain from injury, disease and other bodily or mental conditions and includes the administration, interpretation and evaluation of tests and measurements of bodily functions and structures; the planning, administration, evaluation and modification of treatment and instruction including the use of physical measures, activities and devices for preventive and therapeutic purposes; the provision of consultative, educational and other advisory services for the purpose of reducing the incidence and severity of physical disability, bodily malfunction and pain.

Physical Therapy Assistant - A person who assists in the practice of physical therapy or portions of it as initiated, supervised, and terminated by a licensed PT; a PTA’s responsibilities do not include testing or evaluation.

Supervision - Requirements:

    • The licensed PT will be present whenever a patient is evaluated, a treatment program is established, or a treatment program is changed; and
    • The licensed PT is present to personally review the diagnosis of the condition to be treated, to authorize the procedure, and before dismissal of the patient, to evaluate the performance of the treatment given.

Reference

AS § 08.84.190

12 AAC 54.590

About Me

Zachary Edgar JD, LLM is the managing partner for Therapy Comply.  Zachary is a healthcare attorney that specializes in federal and state healthcare regulatory issues particularly for physical, occupational, and speech therapy practices.  

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