§ 42.22. Supervision of occupational therapy assistants.
(a) Section 3 of the act (63 P.S. § 1503) provides that licensed occupational therapy assistants may assist in the practice of occupational therapy only under the supervision of an occupational therapist. ‘‘Under the supervision of an occupational therapist’’ means that an occupational therapist currently licensed by the Board:
(1) Evaluates the patient/client.
(2) Prepares a written program plan.
(3) Assigns treatment duties based on that program plan to an occupational therapy assistant currently licensed by the Board who has been specifically trained to carry out those duties.
(4) Monitors the occupational therapy assistant’s performance.
(5) Accepts professional responsibility for the occupational therapy assistant’s performance.
(b) Supervision includes the following:
(1) Communicating to the occupational therapy assistant the results of patient/client evaluation and discussing the goals and program plan for the patient/client.
(2) Periodically reevaluating the patient/client and, if necessary, modifying the program plan.
(3) Case management.
(4) Determining program termination.
(5) Providing information, instruction and assistance as needed.
(6) Observing the occupational therapy assistant periodically.
(7) Preparing on a regular basis, but at least annually, a written appraisal of the occupational therapy assistant’s performance and discussing that appraisal with the assistant.
(c) Notwithstanding subsections (a)(1) and (b)(2), the supervisor may assign to a competent occupational therapy assistant the administration of standardized tests, the performance of activities of daily living evaluations and other elements of patient/client evaluation and reevaluation that do not require the professional judgment and skill of an occupational therapist.
(d) The supervisor shall have supervisory contact with the occupational therapy assistant at least 10% of the time worked by the assistant in direct patient care. ‘‘Supervisory contact’’ means face-to-face individual contact, telephone communication, contact through written reports or group conferences among a supervisor and two or more supervisees. Face-to-face individual contact shall occur onsite at least once a month and shall include observation of the assistant performing occupational therapy. The specific mode, frequency and duration of other types of supervisory contact depend on the treatment setting, the occupational therapy assistant’s caseload, the condition of patients/clients being treated by the assistant and the experience and competence of the assistant as determined by the supervisor. The supervisor shall ensure, however, that supervisory contact within each calendar month includes a combination of face-to-face, telephone and written communication.
(e) The supervisor shall maintain a supervisory plan and shall document the supervision of each occupational therapy assistant. Documentation shall include evidence of regular supervision and contact between the supervisor and the assistant.
(f) A supervisor who is temporarily unable to provide supervision shall arrange for substitute supervision by an occupational therapist currently licensed by the Board. The substitute shall provide supervision that is as rigorous and thorough as that provided by the permanent supervisor.
(g) Failure to comply with this section constitutes unprofessional conduct under section 16(a)(2) of the act (63 P.S. § 1516(a)(2)).
Authority The provisions of this § 42.22 issued under section 5(b) of the Occupational Therapy Practice Act (63 P.S. § 1505(b)).
Source The provisions of this § 42.22 adopted May 1, 1992, effective May 2, 1992, 22 Pa.B. 2334.
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