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New York Occupational Therapy Assistants
Practice of an OTA
Practice as an occupational therapy assistant shall include the providing of occupational therapy and client related services under the direction and supervision of an occupational therapist or licensed physician in accordance with the commissioner's regulations.
What are OTAs allowed to do?
Client related activities shall mean:
What activities are expressly prohibited?
Since occupational therapy assistants as a rule have not demonstrated competence to perform patient/client evaluations, they may not be delegated to do so without having demonstrated competence and/or without supervision.
What type of therapist supervision is required?
Direction and supervision means that the occupational therapist or licensed physician:
Consistent with the requirements of this section, the determination of the level and type of supervision shall be based on the ability level and experience of the occupational therapy assistant providing the delegated occupational therapy services, the complexity of client needs, the setting in which the occupational therapy assistant is providing the services, and consultation with the occupational therapy assistant.
Written Supervision Plan
A written supervision plan, acceptable to the occupational therapist or licensed physician providing direction and supervision, shall be required for each occupational therapy assistant providing services. The written supervision plan shall specify the names, professions and other credentials of the persons participating in the supervisory process, the frequency of formal supervisory contacts, the methods (e.g., in-person, by telephone) and types (e.g., review of charts, discussion with occupational therapy assistant) of supervision, the content areas to be addressed, how written treatment notes and reports will be reviewed, including, but not limited to, whether such notes and reports will be initialed or co-signed by the supervisor, and how professional development will be fostered.
Documentation of supervision shall include the date and content of each formal supervisory contact as identified in the written supervision plan and evidence of the review of all treatment notes, reports and assessments.
The supervision plan shall require that the occupational therapist or licensed physician be notified whenever there is a clinically significant change in the condition or performance of the client, so that an appropriate supervisory action can take place.
What is the ratio between supervising OTs and OTAs?
In no event shall the occupational therapist or licensed physician supervise more than five (5) occupational therapy assistants, or its full time equivalent, provided that the total number of occupational therapy assistants being supervised by a single occupational therapist or licensed physician shall not exceed ten (10).
Citations
NYCCR §7902-a
NY EDN Law 156 §76.6
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