§ 18.852. Supervision and assistance.
(a) A prosthetist or orthotist may assign tasks related to the practice of prosthetics or orthotics to an orthotic and prosthetic assistant working under the prosthetist’s or orthotist’s direct supervision provided that assignment of the tasks is consistent with the standards of acceptable prosthetic and orthotic practice embraced by the prosthetic and orthotic community in this Commonwealth.
(b) A prosthetist or orthotist may assign tasks related to the fabrication, assembly, modification and servicing of prosthetic and orthotic devices to an orthotic and prosthetic technician working to the specifications provided by the prosthetist or orthotist.
(c) A pedorthist may assign to pedorthic support personnel tasks related to pedorthic care when direct supervision is provided, and may assign technical tasks to be completed to the specifications provided by the pedorthist if assignment of the tasks is consistent with the standards of acceptable pedorthic practice embraced by the pedorthic community in this Commonwealth.
(d) For purposes of this section, ‘‘direct supervision’’ means that the prosthetist, orthotist or pedorthist is on the premises, periodically observes and is continuously available to provide guidance to the assistant or pedorthic support personnel. For purposes of this section “to the specifications provided” means that the prosthetist, orthotist or pedorthist has provided all necessary measurements and instructions to the technician for the fabrication, assembly, modification and servicing of the device.
(e) Only a prosthetist, orthotist or pedorthist may perform an initial patient evaluation and the final provision of a prosthetic, orthotic or pedorthic device to determine the appropriateness of the device delivered to a patient.
(f) The prosthetist, orthotist or pedorthist assigning and supervising tasks shall bear ultimate responsibility for the completed tasks.
Cross References This section cited in 49 Pa. Code § 18.853 (relating to unprofessional and immoral conduct).
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