“Board” - The State Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Board.

“Continual On-Site Supervision”- The supervising occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant:

• Is present in the department or facility where services are being provided;
• Is immediately available to the non-licensed personnel being supervised; and
• Maintains continual oversight of patient-related duties performed by the non-licensed personnel

“Internship”- Postgraduate on-the-job training of occupational therapists or occupational therapy assistants, approved by the board.

“Non-Licensed Personnel” - Includes:

• Personnel who are
• • Used by a licensed occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant to deliver patient-related duties and non-patient related duties related to the practice of occupational therapy; and
  • Trained under the direction of a licensed occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant to perform designated non-patient related duties and patient-related duties related to the practice of occupational therapy;
• Personnel who are referred to as "aides", "technicians", or "techs".

“Non-Patient Related Duties”- Clerical and maintenance activities and preparation of the work area or equipment.

“Occupational Therapist” - A person who practices occupational therapy.

“Occupational Therapy” - The use of purposeful activity, evaluation, treatment, and consultation with human beings whose ability to cope with the tasks of daily living are threatened with, or impaired by developmental deficits, learning disabilities, aging, poverty, cultural differences, physical injury or illness, or psychological and social disabilities to maximize independence, prevent disability, and maintain health; “occupational therapy” includes

• Developing daily living, play, leisure, social, and developmental skills;
• Facilitating perceptual-motor and sensory integrative functioning;
• Enhancing functional performance, prevocational skills, and work capabilities using specifically designed exercises, therapeutic activities and measure, manual intervention, and appliances;
• Design, fabrication, and application of splints or selective adaptive equipment;
• administering and interpreting standardized and non-standardized assessments, including sensory, manual muscle, and range of motion assessments, necessary for planning effective treatment; and
• Adapting environments for the disabled.

“Occupational Therapy Assistant” - A person who assists in the practice of occupational therapy under the supervision of an occupational therapist.

“Patient-Related Duties” - Routine tasks that do not require the education, skill, and training of an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant, and for which the:

• Outcome anticipated for the task is predictable;
• Situation of the patient and the environment is stable and will not require that judgment, interpretations, or adaptations be made by non-licensed personnel; and
• Task routine and process have been clearly established.

“Supervision”- Requirements:

• The licensed occupational therapist will be present whenever a patient is evaluated, a treatment program is established, or a treatment program is changed; and
• The licensed occupational therapist is present to personally review the diagnosis of the condition to be treated, to authorize the procedure, and before dismissal of the patient, to evaluate the performance of the treatment given.

References

AS § 08.84.190

12 AAC 54.890