§ 5-40.1-3 - Definitions.
SECTION 5-40.1-3
§ 5-40.1-3 Definitions. – (a) "Administrator" means the administrator of the division of professionalregulation.
(b) "Board" means the board of occupational therapy withinthe division of professional regulation established pursuant to the provisionsof § 5-40.1-4.
(c) "Chapter" refers to chapter 40.1 of this title, entitled"Occupational Therapy", of the general laws of Rhode Island.
(d) "Director" means the director of the Rhode Islanddepartment of health.
(e) "Division" means the division of professional regulation.
(f) "Occupational therapy" (OT) is the use of purposefulactivity or interventions designed to achieve functional outcomes which promotehealth, prevent injury or disability, and develop, improve, sustain, or restorethe highest possible level of independence of any individual who has an injury,illness, cognitive impairment, sensory impairment, psychosocial dysfunction,mental illness, developmental or learning disability, physical disability, orother disorder or condition.
(2) Occupational therapy includes evaluation by means ofskilled observation of functional performance and/or assessment through theadministration and interpretation of standardized or non-standardized tests andmeasurements.
(g) "Occupational therapy services" includes, but is notlimited to:
(i) Evaluating and providing treatment in consultation withthe individual, family, or other appropriate persons;
(ii) Interventions directed toward developing, improving,sustaining, or restoring daily living skills, including self-care skills andactivities that involve interactions with others and the environment, workreadiness or work performance, play skills or leisure capacities or educationalperformance skills;
(iii) Developing, improving, sustaining, or restoringsensory-motor, oral-motor, perceptual, or neuromuscular functioning; oremotional, motivational, cognitive, or psychosocial components of performance;and
(iv) Educating the individual, family, or other appropriatepersons in carrying out appropriate interventions.
(2) These services may encompass evaluating need; anddesigning, developing, adapting, applying, or training in the use of assistivetechnology devices; designing, fabricating or applying rehabilitativetechnology, such as selected orthotic devices; training in the functional useof orthotic or prosthetic devices; applying therapeutic activities, modalities,or exercise as an adjunct to or in preparation for functional performance;applying ergonomic principles; adapting environments and processes to enhancedaily living skills; or promoting health and wellness.
(h) "Occupational therapist" means a person licensed topractice occupational therapy under the provisions of this chapter and therules and regulations authorized by this chapter.
(i) "Occupational therapy aide" means a person not licensedpursuant to the statutes and rules applicable to the practice of occupationaltherapy, who works under the supervision of a licensed occupational therapistor occupational therapy assistant, who assists in the practice of occupationaltherapy and whose activities require an understanding of occupational therapy,but do not require professional or advanced training in the basic anatomical,psychological, and social sciences involved in the practice of occupationaltherapy.
(j) "Occupational therapy assistant" means a person licensedto practice occupational therapy under the provisions of this chapter and therules and regulations authorized by this chapter.
(k) "Supervision" means that a licensed occupationaltherapist or occupational therapy assistant is at all times responsible forsupportive personnel and students.