2. What is within the scope of practice of a PT or PTA in a home health setting?
The Board does not differentiate between types of settings, as far as the scope of practice is concerned. The scope of practice as defined in Section 453.005 of the Practice Act is not all inclusive. While the Board will define those activities which may be physical therapy, it leaves those activities which are not defined […]
1. Can a PT supervise home health aides?
The Physical Therapy Board’s rules only specifically address supervision of physical therapy aides. There is nothing in the rules which addresses the ability or authority of a PT to supervise any other personnel. Therefore, as long as the home health aide is not providing any service considered or represented to be physical therapy, the supervision […]
5. Am I able to provide personal training using my physical therapy credentials?
Your license as a physical therapist does not authorize you to be a personal trainer. If you are not a certified personal trainer and would be using your knowledge and skills obtained through your education and experience as a physical therapist, you are bound by the provisions in the PT Practice Act/Rules. If you are […]
4. Can I conduct general group classes to promote health, wellness, and fitness without obtaining a referral and performing an evaluation for each member of the class?
If an attendee wants you to address a specific problem that they are having, you can evaluate the problem without a referral. Managing the patient/client by providing an intervention to specifically address the problem would require a referral unless applying the provisions of treatment without a referral. See PT Rules 322.1. (a)(2)(A) and (D)-(G).
3. Do I need to follow the physical therapy rules and regulations when providing health, wellness, and fitness services?
Yes, there is no provision in the Act/Rules that provides an exception when providing health, wellness, and fitness interventions to a client.
2. Do I need a referral in order to provide health, wellness, and fitness services to a client?
PT Practice Act Sec. 453.302. (c) and PT Rules §322.1. (a)(2)(B) authorize a PT to provide instructions to any person who is asymptomatic relating to the instructions being given without a referral, including instruction to promote health, wellness, and fitness. Interventions provided beyond this exception to referral must adhere to the provisions in the PT […]
1. Is providing health, wellness, and fitness programs within the physical therapy scope of practice?
Yes, programs that promote health, wellness, and fitness are within the scope of physical therapy practice. When you use your knowledge, skills, and credentials as a physical therapy licensee to provide a service that is within the scope of PT practice, you are providing physical therapy services.
4. Can I accept an evaluation/reevaluation from a PT who works for a different company?
The PT who is treating and/or delegating and supervising the treatment of a patient holds the primary responsibility for all of the ensuing physical therapy treatment that is rendered. Professional responsibilities of that PT include, but are not limited to, the performance and documentation of the initial physical therapy examination/evaluation of the patient, the development […]
3. When a patient is hospitalized during a treatment cycle, does a PT need to see the patient before the next treatment?
Section 322.1(b)(2) states that a patient receiving treatment must be reevaluated by a PT: 1) at least once every 60 days, or at a higher frequency as established by the PT; 2) or in response to a change in the patient’s medical status that affects physical therapy treatment, when a change in the physical therapy […]
2. A PTA is treating a patient and it has been 60 days since the last reevaluation. The doctor has authorized two more treatments. Does the PT have to reevaluate the patient before those two treatments can be provided by the PTA?
Yes. The PT must reevaluate the patient at a minimum of every 60 days before provision of physical therapy treatment by a PTA or PT Aide can continue, even if it is only for 2 more treatments. See PT Rule §322.1(d). (updated 3/01/15)