Assistive Personnel - PTAs and physical therapy aides and other assistive personnel who are trained or educated health care providers and who are not PTAs or physical therapy aides but who perform specific designated tasks related to physical therapy under the supervision of a PT. At the discretion of the supervising PT, and if properly credentialed and not prohibited by any other law, other assistive personnel may be identified by the title specific to their training or education. This rule does not apply to personnel assisting other licensed health care professionals in the performance of delegable treatment responsibilities within their scope of practice.

General Supervision - The supervising PT is on call and is readily available via telecommunications when the PTA is providing treatment interventions.

On Call - A supervising PT is able to go to the location at which and on the same day that a PTA provides a selected treatment intervention if the PT, after consultation with the PTA, determines that going to the location is in the best interest of the patient.

On-Site Supervision - That the supervising PT is on site and is present in the facility or on the campus where assistive personnel or a holder of an interim permit is performing services, is immediately available to assist the person being supervised in the services being performed and maintains continued involvement in appropriate aspects of each treatment session in which a component of treatment is delegated.

Physical Therapist - A person who is licensed to practice physical therapy under Arizona law.

Physical Therapist Assistant - A person who meets the requirements of Arizona law for certification and who performs physical therapy procedures and related tasks that have been selected and delegated by the supervising PT.

Physical Therapy Aide - A person who is trained under the direction of a PT and who performs designated and supervised routine physical therapy tasks.

Physical Therapist Assistant Clinical Performance Instrument - The document used to assess an individual’s knowledge, skills, and attitudes to determine the individual’s readiness to work as a physical therapist assistant that is published by the American Physical Therapy Association, Division of Education, March 1998, 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-1488 and incorporated by reference and on file with the Board. This incorporation by reference contains no future editions or amendments.

Readily Available - A supervising PT is able to respond within fifteen (15) minutes to a communication from a PTA providing a selected treatment intervention under general supervision.

Supervised Clinical Practice - The period of time a PT is engaged in the practice of physical therapy or a PTA is engaged in work as a PTA after being issued an interim permit by the Board.

Supervising Physical Therapist - An individual licensed who provides onsite or general supervision to assistive personnel.

Reference

A.R.S. § 32-2001

4 A.A.C. 24-101