“Approved Agency”- An independent credentialing agency, approved by the Board, which evaluates the credentials of foreign-trained applicants.

“Approved Curriculum for Physical Therapist Assistants” - A curriculum that is approved by the American Physical Therapy Association.

“Approved Physical Therapy Curriculum” - A curriculum for physical therapists that is approved by the American Medical Association or the American Physical Therapy Association.

“Biennial Renewal”- Renewal every other year with even-numbered licenses being renewed in even-numbered years and odd-numbered licenses being renewed in odd-numbered years.

“Board”- The Board of Physical Therapy Examiners of Maryland created by Health Occupations Article, §13-201, Annotated Code of Maryland.

“Clinical Treatment Hour”- An hour in which physical therapy or limited physical therapy services are provided at some point during the hour.

“Direct Supervision”- A licensed physical therapist is personally present and immediately available within the treatment area to give aid, direction, and instruction when physical therapy procedures or activities are performed.

“Dry Needling”- A physical therapy intervention, also known as intramuscular manual therapy, that:

• Involves the insertion of one or more solid needles, a mechanical device, into the muscle and related tissues to affect change in muscle and related tissues;
• Requires ongoing evaluation, assessment, and re-evaluation of the impairments;
• Is only utilized in parts of the body with neuromuscular or musculoskeletal links to the impairments; and
• Is not performed for:
• • The purposes of acupuncture as defined in Health Occupations Article, §1A-101, Annotated Code of Maryland; or
  • Any purpose outside the scope of physical therapy.

“Electronically Signed”- An electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to or logically associated with a record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the record.

“Evaluations”- Procedures which include, but are not limited to:

• Testing of strength, sensation, and reflexes;
• Goniometric measurements and their interpretation;
• Assessments of function, muscle tone, developmental levels, accessory motions, posture, and pain scale.

“Goals”- The expected outcome as the result of therapy.

“Group Therapy”- Treatment procedures provided simultaneously to two or more patients that:

• Require constant attendance, but not one-on-one contact by the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant; and
• Can be, but need not be, the same treatment procedures.

“Hearing Committee”- A committee of three or more Board members that has been delegated the authority to conduct hearings in accordance with Health Occupations Article, §13-317, Annotated Code of Maryland.

“History”- Data that is pertinent to the current physical therapy problem.

“Hour”- A sixty (60) minute increment during a calendar day which is calculated by dividing the day into consecutive sixty (60) minute increments beginning when the day's first physical therapy or limited physical therapy service starts and ending when the last physical therapy or limited physical therapy service terminates, the last consecutive increment of which may be a fraction of an hour.

“Interpretation”- The analysis of findings for the purpose of establishing and justifying the plan of care.

“Interview”- A meeting with the Board or with one or more of its representatives.

“Licensed Physical Therapist” - An individual licensed by the Board to practice physical therapy in Maryland.

“Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant” - An individual licensed by the Board to practice limited physical therapy in Maryland.

“Licensing Examinations” - The written examinations approved by the Board consisting of the:

• National licensing examination; and
• Maryland Physical Therapy Law examination.

“License Number” - The Maryland physical therapy license number issued by the Board.

“Ongoing Supervision” - That the physical therapist maintains continuing verbal and written contact with the physical therapist assistant to provide supervision and instruction adequate to ensure the safety and welfare of the patient.

“Onset” - The date of occurrence of the condition for which physical therapy is being provided.

“Oral Competency” - That the applicant who did not graduate from a recognized English-speaking educational institution has obtained a passing score, as determined by the Board, on the Test of English as a Foreign Language administered by the Educational Testing Service.

“Passing Score” - The result of two examinations:

• When taken before March, 1996, within the 1.5 standard deviation, based on the national average of the national licensing examination or, when taken in March, 1996, and after that, the criterion-referenced score set by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy; and
• 90 percent of the total on the Maryland Physical Therapy Jurisprudence Examination.

“Physical Therapy Aide” - A person who performs certain physical therapy duties under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist. This individual may be known, also, as a physical therapist technician, a rehabilitation technician, an athletic trainer, or be described by some other similar title.

“License”- A license issued by the Board to practice:

• Physical therapy; or
• Limited physical therapy.

“Licensed Physical Therapist”- A physical therapist who is licensed by the Board to practice physical therapy in Maryland.

“Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant” - A physical therapist assistant who is licensed by the Board to practice limited physical therapy.

“Physical Therapist”- An individual, licensed by the State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners, who practices physical therapy and who has passed the national physical therapy licensing examination administered or accepted by the Board.

“Physical Therapist Assistant”- An individual who practices limited physical therapy and who has passed the national physical therapy licensing examination administered or accepted by the Board.

“Physical Therapy Diagnosis” - The condition for which physical therapy is provided if different from the medical diagnosis.

“Plan of Care” - The plan of treatment aimed at achieving the anticipated functional goals.

“Progress” - The measurable improvement as related to goals.

“Post-Graduation Transcript of Credits” - An official copy of an applicant's educational record, including the degree awarded and the date of graduation, sent directly from the educational institution to the Board.

“Practice Limited Physical Therapy” - To implement therapeutic interventions for the purpose of:

• The prevention of disability in patients or clients; and
• The physical rehabilitation of patients or clients with a congenital or acquired disability.

“Practice Physical Therapy”- To design, implement, and modify therapeutic interventions for the purpose of:

• The prevention of disability in patients or clients; and
• The physical rehabilitation of patients or clients with a congenital or acquired disability.

“Reporting Service” - The Interstate Reporting Service, an agency approved by the Board for the purpose of recording, storing, and transmitting license examination scores.

“Reevaluation” - A measurement of progress, or lack of it, based on comparisons of tests, measurements, and assessments with previous evaluation or reevaluations.

“Requirements for Documentation” - The requirements as set forth in Regulation .02-1 of this chapter and approved by the Board.

“Response to Treatment” - A brief statement of the patient's condition at conclusion of treatment.

“Services” - The evaluation or treatment, or both, as appropriate, of a patient.

“Signature and Title” - The name of the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant written by that person or electronically signed by that person in accordance with federal and State law and followed by the title "PT" or "PTA" and license number. A stamp of a signature is not acceptable as a signature for documentation.

“Student” - An individual who is currently enrolled in a physical therapy or physical therapist assistant educational program approved by the Board.

“Supervising Physical Therapist” - A physical therapist who provides ongoing supervision to a physical therapist assistant regarding the care of a patient.

“Supportive Personnel” - Includes aides and other unlicensed personnel.

“State”:

• A state, possession, or territory of the United States;
• The District of Columbia; or
• The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

“Student” - An individual who is supervised directly by a licensed physical therapist in a Board-approved physical therapy educational program.

“Supportive Personnel” - Aides and other unlicensed personnel who work under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist.

“Test Results” - The measurable and objective findings obtained from the evaluations.

“Verification” - Confirmation of licensure obtained directly from the state in which the applicant is currently licensed, on a form provided by the Board.

“Waiver of National Licensing Examination” - That the Board may waive the national licensing examination if the applicant previously took the examination in another state and met the requirements for a passing score.

“Written Competency” - That the applicant who did not graduate from a recognized English-speaking educational institution has obtained a passing score, as determined by the Board, on the Test of English as a Foreign Language administered by the Educational Testing Service.

Reference

M.D. Health Prof. Law § 13-101

COMAR 10.38.01.01

COMAR 10.38.03.01

COMAR 10.38.04.01

COMAR 10.38.08.02

COMAR 10.38.12.02