Section 10-101 - Definitions.

§ 10-101. Definitions.
 

(a)  In general.- In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. 

(b)  ACOTE.- "ACOTE" means the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education. 

(c)  Aide.- "Aide" means any individual who: 

(1) Is not licensed by the Board to perform occupational therapy or limited occupational therapy; and 

(2) Provides supportive services to the occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant under direct supervision. 

(d)  Board.- "Board" means the State Board of Occupational Therapy Practice. 

(e)  Direct supervision.- "Direct supervision" means supervision provided on a face-to-face basis by a supervising therapist when delegated client-related tasks are performed. 

(f)  License.- "License" means, unless the context requires otherwise, a license issued by the Board to practice: 

(1) Occupational therapy; or 

(2) Limited occupational therapy. 

(g)  Licensed occupational therapist.- "Licensed occupational therapist" means, unless the context requires otherwise, an occupational therapist who is licensed by the Board to practice occupational therapy. 

(h)  Licensed occupational therapy assistant.- "Licensed occupational therapy assistant" means, unless the context requires otherwise, an occupational therapy assistant who is licensed by the Board to practice limited occupational therapy. 

(i)  Limited occupational therapy.-  

(1) "Limited occupational therapy" means participation, while under the periodic supervision of a licensed occupational therapist, in: 

(i) An initial screening and evaluation that applies the principles and procedures of occupational therapy; and 

(ii) A treatment program that applies the principles and procedures of occupational therapy. 

(2) "Limited occupational therapy" does not include: 

(i) Initiation and interpretation of evaluation data; and 

(ii) Initiation of a treatment program before the client has been evaluated and a licensed occupational therapist has rendered a treatment plan. 

(j)  NBCOT.- "NBCOT" means the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. 

(k)  Occupational therapist.- "Occupational therapist" means an individual who practices occupational therapy. 

(l)  Occupational therapy.- "Occupational therapy" means the therapeutic use of purposeful and meaningful goal-directed activities to evaluate, consult, and treat individuals who: 

(1) Have a disease or disorder, impairment, activity limitation, or participation restriction that interferes with their ability to function independently in daily life roles; or 

(2) Benefit from the prevention of impairments and activity limitations. 

(m)  Occupational therapy assistant.- "Occupational therapy assistant" means an individual who practices limited occupational therapy. 

(n)  Occupational therapy practice; limited occupational therapy practice.- "Occupational therapy practice" or "limited occupational therapy practice" means to carry out a treatment program that applies the principles and procedures of occupational therapy. 

(o)  Occupational therapy principles.- "Occupational therapy principles" include: 

(1) The use of therapeutic activities that promote independence in daily life roles; 

(2) Remediation or restoration of performance abilities that are limited due to impairment in biological, physiological, psychological, or neurological processes; 

(3) In order to enhance performance, the adaption of task, process, or the environment, or the teaching of compensatory techniques; 

(4) Methods and techniques for preventing disability that facilitate the development or safe application of performance skills; 

(5) Health promotion strategies and practices that enhance performance abilities; and 

(6) Education, instruction, and research in the practice of occupational therapy. 

(p)  Occupational therapy procedures.-  

(1) "Occupational therapy procedures" include: 

(i) Developing, improving, sustaining, or restoring skills in activities of daily living, work, or productive activities, including: 

1. Instrumental activities of daily activity; and 

2. Play and leisure activities; 

(ii) Developing, remediating, or restoring sensorimotor, perceptual, cognitive, or psychological components of performance; 

(iii) Designing, fabricating, applying, or training in the use of assistive technology, splinting, or orthotic devices, including training in the use of prosthetic devices; 

(iv) Adapting environments and processes, including the application of ergonomic principles to enhance performance and safety in daily life roles; 

(v) Applying physical agent modalities as adjuncts to or in preparation for purposeful activity with appropriate training, as specified by the Board in regulations; 

(vi) Promoting safe, functional mobility in daily life tasks; 

(vii) Providing intervention in collaboration with the client, the client's family, the client's caregiver, or others; 

(viii) Educating the client, the client's family, the client's caregiver, or others in carrying out appropriate nonskilled interventions; and 

(ix) Consulting with groups, programs, organizations, and communities to provide population-based services. 

(2) "Occupational therapy procedures" do not include the adjustment or manipulation of any of the osseous structures of the body or spine. 

(q)  On-site supervision.- "On-site supervision" means supervision in which a supervisor is immediately available on a face-to-face basis when client procedures are performed or as otherwise necessary. 

(r)  Periodic supervision.-  

(1) "Periodic supervision" means supervision by a licensed occupational therapist on a face-to-face basis, occurring the earlier of at least: 

(i) Once every 10 therapy visits; or 

(ii) Once every 30 calendar days. 

(2) "Periodic supervision" includes: 

(i) Chart review; and 

(ii) Meetings to discuss client treatment plans, client response, or observation of treatment. 

(s)  Supervision.- "Supervision" means aid, direction, and instruction provided by an occupational therapist to adequately ensure the safety and welfare of clients during the course of occupational therapy. 

(t)  Temporary license.- "Temporary license" means a license issued by the Board under and as limited by § 10-313 of this title to practice: 

(1) Occupational therapy; or 

(2) Limited occupational therapy. 
 

[An. Code 1957, art. 43, § 911; 1981, ch. 8, § 2; 1990, ch. 6, § 11; 2000, ch. 412; 2001, ch. 29, § 1; ch. 65; 2010, ch. 72.]