Authorized Health Care Practitioner - Includes licensed physicians, osteopathic physicians, chiropractors, naturopaths, podiatric physicians and surgeons, dentists, and advanced registered nurse practitioners.

Board - The Washington Board of Physical Therapy.

CAPTE- The commission on accreditation for physical therapy education.

Close Supervision - The supervisor has personally diagnosed the condition to be treated and has personally authorized the procedures to be performed. The supervisor is continuously on-site and physically present in the operatory while the procedures are performed and capable of responding immediately in the event of an emergency.

Consultation - A communication regarding a patient's evaluation and proposed treatment plan with an authorized health care practitioner.

Department - The Washington state department of health.

Direct Supervision - The supervisor must:

• Be continuously on-site and present in the department or facility where the person being supervised is performing services;
• Be immediately available to assist the person being supervised in the services being performed; and
• Maintain continued involvement in appropriate aspects of each treatment session in which a component of treatment is delegated to assistive personnel or is required to be directly supervised.

Indirect Supervision - The supervisor is not on the premises, but has given either written or oral instructions for treatment of the patient and the patient has been examined by the physical therapist at such time as acceptable health care practice requires and consistent with the particular delegated health care task.

NPTE - The National Physical Therapy Examination.

Other Assistive Personnel - Other trained or educated health care personnel, who perform specific designated tasks that are related to physical therapy and within their license, scope of practice, or formal education, under the supervision of a physical therapist including, but not limited to, licensed massage therapists, licensed athletic trainers, and exercise physiologists. At the direction of the supervising physical therapist, and if properly credentialed and not prohibited by any other law, other assistive personnel may be identified by the title specific to their license, training or education.

Physical Therapist - A person who meets all the requirements of this chapter and is licensed in Washington to practice physical therapy.

Physical Therapist Assistant - A person who meets all the requirements of this chapter and is licensed as a physical therapist assistant and who performs physical therapy procedures and related tasks that have been selected and delegated only by the supervising physical therapist.

Physical Therapy Aide - An unlicensed person who receives ongoing on-the-job training and assists a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant in providing physical therapy patient care and who does not meet the definition of a physical therapist, physical therapist assistant, or other assistive personnel. A physical therapy aide may directly assist in the implementation of therapeutic interventions but may not alter or modify the plan of therapeutic interventions and may not perform any procedure or task which only a physical therapist may perform under this chapter.

Other Assistive Personnel - Other trained or educated health care personnel who perform specific designated tasks that are related to physical therapy and within their license, scope of practice, or formal education, under the supervision of a physical therapist, including but not limited to licensed massage therapists, athletic trainers, and exercise physiologists. At the direction of the supervising physical therapist, and if properly credentialed and not prohibited by any other law, other assistive personnel may be identified by the title specific to their license, training, or education.

Physical Therapy - The care and services provided by or under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist licensed in Washington.

Secretary - The secretary of health.

Sharp Debridement - The removal of devitalized tissue from a wound with scissors, scalpel, and tweezers without anesthesia. "Sharp debridement" does not mean surgical debridement. A physical therapist may perform sharp debridement, to include the use of a scalpel, only upon showing evidence of adequate education and training as established by rule. Until the rules are established, but no later than July 1, 2006, physical therapists licensed under this chapter who perform sharp debridement as of July 24, 2005, shall submit to the secretary an affidavit that includes evidence of adequate education and training in sharp debridement, including the use of a scalpel.

Spinal Manipulation - Spinal manipulation, spinal manipulative therapy, high velocity thrust maneuvers, and grade five mobilization of the spine and its immediate articulations.

Reference

RCW 18.74.010

WAC 246-915-010