Applicant - A person applying for a license or permit under this chapter.

Board - The Idaho physical therapy licensure board.

Bureau - The bureau of occupational licenses.

Department - The department of self-governing agencies.

Direct Supervision- A PT's or PTA's physical presence and availability to render direction in person and on the premises where physical therapy is being provided.

Direct Personal Supervision - A PT's or PTA's direct and continuous physical presence and availability to render direction, in person and on the premises where physical therapy is being provided. The PT or PTA must have direct contact with the patient during each session and assess patient response to delegated treatment.

Dry Needling - A skilled intervention performed by a PT that uses a thin filiform needle to penetrate the skin and stimulate underlying neural, muscular and connective tissues for the evaluation and management of neuromusculoskeletal conditions, pain and movement impairments.

Examination - The examination is the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) administered by Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.  The examination may also include a jurisprudence examination adopted by the Board.

Functional Mobility Training - Includes gait training, locomotion training, and posture training.

General Supervision - A PT's availability at least by means of telecommunications, which does not require a PT to be on the premises where physical therapy is being provided, for the direction of a PTA.

License - A document issued by the board to authorizing the person to practice as a PT or PTA in Idaho.

Manual Therapy - Skilled hand movements to mobilize or manipulate soft tissues and joints for the purpose of:

• Modulating pain, increasing range of motion, reducing or eliminating soft tissue swelling, inflammation or restriction;
• Inducing relaxation;
• Improving contractile and non-contractile tissue extensibility; and
• Improving pulmonary function.

Nationally Accredited School - A school or course of physical therapy or physical therapist assistant with a curriculum approved by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) or an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation, or a successor entity, or both.

Non-Treatment Patient Related Tasks - Actions and procedures related to patient care that do not involve direct patient treatment or direct personal supervision, but do require a level of supervision not less than general supervision, including, but not limited to: treatment area preparation and clean-up, equipment set-up, heat and cold pack preparation, preparation of a patient for treatment by a PT or PTA, transportation of patients to and from treatment, and assistance to a PT or PTA when such assistance is requested by a PT or PTA when safety and effective treatment would so require.

Physical Agents or Modalities - Thermal, acoustic, radiant, mechanical, or electrical energy used to produce physiologic changes in tissues.

Physical Therapist - A person licensed in Idaho to engage in the practice of physical therapy.

Physical Therapist Assistant - A person who meets the requirements and who performs physical therapy procedures and related tasks that have been selected and delegated only by a supervising PT.

Physical Therapy - The care and services provided by or under the direction and supervision of a PT.

Routine Physical Therapy Tasks - Actions and procedures within the scope of practice of physical therapy, which do not require the special skills or training of a PT or PTA, rendered directly to a patient by supportive personnel at the request of and under the direct personal supervision of a PT or PTA.

Supervising Physical Therapist - A licensed PT who developed and recorded the initial plan of care and/or who has maintained regular treatment sessions with a patient. Such physical therapist’s designation of another licensed PT if the PT who developed and recorded the initial plan of care or maintained regular treatment sessions is not available to provide direction at least by means of telecommunications.

Supportive Personnel - An individual, or individuals, who are neither a PT or a PTA, but who are employed by and/or trained under the direction of a licensed PT to perform designated non-treatment patient related tasks and routine physical therapy tasks.

Testing - Standard methods and techniques used in the practice of physical therapy to gather data about individuals.

Reference

Idaho Code Ann. § 54-2203

IDAPA 24.13.01.010