“Board” - The Montana Board of Occupational Therapy Practice.

“Clinician”- An occupational therapist endorsed by the board to administer topical medications.

“Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant” - A person licensed to assist in the practice of occupational therapy under this chapter, who works under the general supervision of an occupational therapist in accordance with the provisions of the national board for certification in occupational therapy, inc., and adopted by the board.

“Deep Modalities”- The use of a sound or electrical physical agent modality which penetrates past the subcutaneous layer of fat into the muscle through the application of heat, cold, ultrasound, phonophoresis, or iontophoresis.

“Deep Modality Endorsement”- A licensed occupational therapist has met the statutory requirements in the use of sound and electrical physical agent modalities and occupational therapy techniques involving topical medications.

“Direct Supervision”- The supervisor is physically present in the direct treatment area of the client-related activity being performed by the supervisee and requires face-to-face communication, direction, observation, and daily evaluation.

“Documentation”- Evidence of successfully completing a formal instruction program and must include:

• An official certificate of attendance or completion indicating:
• • name or title of the course attended;
  • number of hours of course instruction; and
  • date(s) the course was attended; and
• A course syllabus.

“General Supervision”- The supervisor provides face-to-face communication, direction, observation, and evaluation of a supervisee's delivery of client services at least monthly at the site of client-related activity, with interim supervision occurring by other methods, such as telephonic, electronic, or written communication.

“Instruction”- Didactic study presented in any of the following forums:

• Continuing education unit course work;
• In-service training by licensed health care professionals;
• Professional conference;
• Professional workshop; or
• Self-study course work.

“Occupational Therapist” - A person licensed to practice occupational therapy under this chapter.

“Occupational Therapy” - The therapeutic use of purposeful goal-directed activities and interventions to achieve functional outcomes to maximize the independence and the maintenance of health of an individual who is limited by disease or disorders, impairments, activity limitations, or participation restrictions that interfere with the individual's ability to function independently in daily life roles. The practice encompasses evaluation, assessment, treatment, consultation, remediation, and restoration of performance abilities that are limited due to impairment in biological, physiological, psychological, or neurological processes. Occupational therapy services may be provided individually, in groups, or through social systems.

“Occupational Therapy Aide” - A person who assists in the practice of occupational therapy under the direct supervision of an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant and whose activities require an understanding of occupational therapy but do not require professional or advanced training in the basic anatomical, biological, psychological, and social sciences involved in the practice of occupational therapy.

“Occupational Therapy Assistant” - A person who is licensed to assist in the practice of occupational therapy under this chapter and who works under the general supervision of an occupational therapist.

“Physical agent modalities” - Modalities that produce a response in soft tissue through the use of light, water, temperature, sound, or electricity. Physical agent modalities are characterized as adjunctive methods used in conjunction with or in immediate preparation for patient involvement in purposeful activity. Superficial physical agent modalities include hot packs, cold packs, ice, fluidotherapy, paraffin, water, and other commercially available superficial heating and cooling devices.

“Purposeful Goal-Directed Activity” - An activity in which the individual is an active, voluntary participant and is directed toward a goal that the individual considers meaningful. Purposeful activities are used to evaluate, facilitate, restore, or maintain individuals' abilities to function within their daily occupations.

“Qualified Occupational Therapist” - The supervising occupational therapist has been certified in the modality supervised.

“Routine Supervision” - Of temporary permit holders means direct contact at least daily at the site of work, with interim supervision by other methods, such as telephonic, electronic, or written communication.

“Superficial Modalities” - Physical agent modalities including hot packs, cold packs, ice, fluidotherapy, paraffin, water, and other commercially available superficial heating and cooling devices used on the surface of the skin.

“Topical Medications” - Medications applied locally to the skin and includes only medications for which a prescription is required under state or federal law. 

Reference

Mont. Code Ann. § 37-24-103

Mont. Admin. R. 24.165.302