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)
1. Does the PT have to make “last visit”?
The “last visit” is not addressed in the Board’s rules. The rules do say that there must be a reevaluation prior to a planned discharge, which indicates that the PT must see the patient at some point prior to the last visit. The PTA may make the last visit and collect final data to report […]
3. How does Physical Therapy work in the ECI setting?
Formation of an Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) Work Group was authorized by the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners (PT Board) in April 2022 with the task of reviewing and updating the PT Rules/ECI Crosswalk (Crosswalk) that was developed in 2006. The Work Group consisted of Physical Therapists who work in the ECI setting, as […]
2. Is a PT in a school setting required to reevaluate a student every 30 days?
No, evaluations and reevaluations in the educational setting should be conducted in accordance with federal mandates of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), or when warranted by a change in the child’s condition, and include onsite reexamination of the child. The Plan of Care (Individual Education Program) must be reviewed by the PT at […]