324.050. Occupational therapy practice act--definitions.
Occupational therapy practice act--definitions.
324.050. 1. Sections 324.050 to 324.089 shall be known and may becited as the "Occupational Therapy Practice Act".
2. For the purposes of sections 324.050 to 324.089, the followingterms mean:
(1) "Board", the Missouri board of occupational therapy;
(2) "Certifying entity", the nongovernmental agency or associationwhich certifies or registers individuals who have completed academic andtraining requirements;
(3) "Director", the director of the division of professionalregistration;
(4) "Division", the division of professional registration;
(5) "Occupational therapist", a person licensed to practiceoccupational therapy as defined in this section and whose license issuedpursuant to sections 324.050 to 324.089;
(6) "Occupational therapy", the use of purposeful activity orinterventions designed to achieve functional outcomes which promote health,prevent injury or disability and which develop, improve, sustain or restorethe highest possible level of independence of any individual who has aninjury, illness, cognitive impairment, psychosocial dysfunction, mentalillness, developmental or learning disability, physical disability or otherdisorder or condition. It shall include assessment by means of skillobservation or evaluation through the administration and interpretation ofstandardized or nonstandardized tests and measurements. Occupationaltherapy services include, but are not limited to:
(a) The assessment and provision of treatment in consultation withthe individual, family or other appropriate persons;
(b) Interventions directed toward developing, improving, sustainingor restoring daily living skills, including self-care skills and activitiesthat involve interactions with others and the environment, work readinessor work performance, play skills or leisure capacities or enhancingeducational performances skills;
(c) Developing, improving, sustaining or restoring sensorimotor,oral-motor, perceptual or neuromuscular functioning; or emotional,motivational, cognitive or psychosocial components of performance; and
(d) Education of the individual, family or other appropriate personsin carrying out appropriate interventions.
Such services may encompass assessment of need and the design, development,adaptation, application or training in the use of assistive technologydevices; the design, fabrication or application of rehabilitativetechnology such as selected orthotic devices, training in the use oforthotic or prosthetic devices; the application of ergonomic principles;the adaptation of environments and processes to enhance functionalperformance; or the promotion of health and wellness;
(7) "Occupational therapy aide", a person who assists in the practiceof occupational therapy under the direct supervision of an occupationaltherapist or occupational therapy assistant at all times and whoseactivities require an understanding of occupational therapy but do notrequire training in the basic anatomical, biological, psychological andsocial sciences involved in the practice of occupational therapy;
(8) "Occupational therapy assistant", a person who is licensed as anoccupational therapy assistant by the division, in collaboration with theboard. The function of an occupational therapy assistant is to assist anoccupational therapist in the delivery of occupational therapy services incompliance with federal regulations and rules promulgated by the division,in collaboration with the Missouri board of occupational therapy.
(L. 1997 S.B. 141 §§ 1, 2, A.L. 1999 H.B. 343, A.L. 2008 S.B. 788)