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(Utah Adminstrative Code as in effect on January 1, 2000)

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[Utah Administrative Code Table of Contents]
[Title R156. Table of Contents]

(R156. Commerce, Occupational and Professional Licensing. )

R156-24a. Physical Therapist Practice Act Rules.

R156-24a-101 Title.
R156-24a-102 Definitions.
R156-24a-103 Authority - Purpose.
R156-24a-104 Organization - Relationship to Rule R156-1.
R156-24a-302a Qualifications for Licensure - Education Requirements.
R156-24a-302b Qualifications for Licensure - Examination Requirements.
R156-24a-303 Renewal Cycle - Procedures.
R156-24a-502 Unprofessional Conduct.
R156-24a-503 Physical Therapist Supervisory Authority and Responsibility.

R156-24a-101 Title.

These rules are known as the "Physical Therapist Practice Act Rules".

R156-24a-102 Definitions.

In addition to the definitions in Title 58, Chapters 1 and 24a, as used in Title 58, Chapters 1 and 24a or these rules:

(1) "Approved course work evaluation tool", as used in Subsection R156-24a-302a(3), means the FSBPT's June 1997 revised publication entitled "A Course Work Evaluation Tool For Persons Who Received Their Physical Therapy Education Outside the United States", which is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference.

(2) "CAPTE" means Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.

(3) "FSBPT" means the Federation of State Licensing Boards of Physical Therapy.

(4) "Joint mobilization", as used in Subsection 58-24a-104 (2)(b), means passive and active movements of the joints of a patient, including the spine, to increase the mobility of joint systems; but, does not include specific vertebral adjustment and manipulation of the articulation of the spine by those methods or techniques which are generally recognized as the classic practice of chiropractic.

(5) "Unprofessional conduct" as defined in Title 58, Chapters 1 and 24a, is further defined, in accordance with Subsection 58-1-203 (5), in Section R156-24a-502.

R156-24a-103 Authority - Purpose.

These rules are adopted by the division under the authority of Subsection 58-1-106 (1) to enable the division to administer Title 58, Chapter 24a.

R156-24a-104 Organization - Relationship to Rule R156-1.

The organization of this rule and its relationship to Rule R156-1 is as described in Section R156-1-107.

R156-24a-302a Qualifications for Licensure - Education Requirements.

(1) In accordance with Subsection 58-24a-109 (2)(b), the accredited school of physical therapy for a physical therapist shall be accredited by CAPTE.

(2) In accordance with Subsection 58-24a-102 (5), a physical therapist assistant shall complete a physical therapy assistant program accredited by CAPTE.

(3) In accordance with Section 58-1-302 , an applicant who has been licensed in a foreign country whose degree was not accredited by CAPTE shall document that his education is equal to a CAPTE accredited degree by submitting to the Division a credential evaluation from the Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy which shall use the approved course work evaluation tool. Educational deficiencies may be corrected by completing college level credits in the deficient areas or by passing the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) demonstrating proficiency in the deficient areas.

R156-24a-302b Qualifications for Licensure - Examination Requirements.

(1) In accordance with Subsection 58-24a-109 (2), the examination which shall be required for each applicant for licensure, including endorsement applicants, as a physical therapist shall consist of the following:

(a) the FSBPT's National Physical Therapy Examination with a passing score of at least 600 as established by the FSBPT; and

(b) the Utah Physical Therapy Law Examination with a passing score of at least 75%.

(2) An applicant must have successfully completed all academic and associated clinical requirements before being eligible to sit for the examinations required for Utah licensure.

R156-24a-303 Renewal Cycle - Procedures.

(1) In accordance with Subsection 58-1-308 (1), the renewal date for the two-year renewal cycle applicable to licensees under Title 58, Chapter 24a is established by rule in Section R156-1-308.

(2) Renewal procedures shall be in accordance with Section R156-1-308.

R156-24a-502 Unprofessional Conduct.

Unprofessional conduct includes:

(1) violating any provision of the American Physical Therapy Association's Code of Ethics, last amended January 1997, which is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference; and

(2) not providing supervision as set forth in Section R156-24a-503.

R156-24a-503 Physical Therapist Supervisory Authority and Responsibility.

In accordance with Subsection 58-24a-502[Ed.Note: Apparent Utah Code Ref. not found.] (2), the supervisory responsibilities of a physical therapist include the following:

(1) Adequate supervision requires at a minimum that a supervising physical therapist perform the following activities:

(a) designate or establish channels of written and oral communication;

(b) interpret available information concerning the individual under care;

(c) provide the initial evaluation;

(d) develop a plan of care, including short and long term goals;

(e) select and delegate appropriate tasks of the plan of care;

(f) assess competence of supportive personnel in the delegated tasks;

(g) identify and document precautions, special problems, contraindications, anticipated progress, and plans for reevaluation; and

(h) reevaluate, adjust plan care when necessary, perform final evaluation, and establish a follow-up plan.

(2) Supervision by a physical therapist of a physical therapist assistant shall include the following conditions:

(a) an initial visit shall be made by the physical therapist for evaluation of the patient and establishment of a plan of care; and

(b) supervision shall be on site by the physical therapist every sixth treatment but no longer than every 30 days from the time of the physical therapist's last evaluation or treatment.

(3) Duties delegated by a physical therapist to a physical therapist assistant may include:

(a) providing physical therapy services according to a plan of care established by the licensed physical therapist;

(b) adjusting a specific treatment procedure in accordance with changes in patient status only with prior evaluation and approval by the supervising physical therapist;

(c) responding to inquiries regarding patient status to appropriate parties within the plan of care established by a supervising physical therapist, but not interpreting data beyond the scope of his physical therapist assistant education; and

(d) referring inquires regarding patient prognosis to the supervising physical therapist.

(4) Duties delegated by a physical therapist to a physical therapist aide may include:

(a) engaging in assembly and disassembly, maintenance and transportation, preparation and all other operational activities relevant to equipment and accessories necessary for treatment; and

(b) providing only that type of elementary and direct patient care which the patient and family members could reasonably be expected to learn and perform.

(5) A physical therapist aide may not interpret referrals, perform evaluations or evaluate procedures, initiate or adjust treatment programs, assume responsibility for planning patient treatment care, perform debridement, topical medical application, or joint mobilization.

(6) Each physical therapist assistant and physical therapist aide shall clearly identify himself as a non-licensed person and shall not present or hold himself out in any way as a physical therapist.

[Indexing] KEY: licensing, physical therapy
    March 9, 1999

[Editor's note: Below are references to the Utah Code that are listed by the agency making this rule as authority for the rule.]
58-24a-101 58-1-106 (1) 58-1-202 (1)
Notice of Continuation May 12, 1997

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