Section R4-43-401. Supervision of Occupational Therapy Assistants

A.      Only a licensed occupational therapist shall:

1.        Prepare an initial treatment plan, initiate or re-evaluate a client or patient’s treatment plan, or authorize in writing a change of a treatment plan;

2.        Delegate duties to a licensed occupational therapy assis- tant, designate an assistant’s duties, and assign a level of supervision; and

3.        Authorize a patient discharge.

B.       A licensed occupational therapy assistant shall not:

1.        Evaluate or develop a treatment plan independently;

2.        Initiate a treatment plan before a client or patient is evalu- ated and a treatment plan is prepared by an occupational therapist;

3.        Continue a treatment procedure appearing harmful to a patient or client until the procedure is reevaluated by an occupational therapist; or

4.        Continue or discontinue occupational therapy services unless the treatment plan is approved or re-approved by a supervising occupational therapist.

C.      A supervising occupational therapist shall supervise a licensed occupational therapy assistant as follows:

1.        Not less than routine supervision if the occupational ther-

apy assistant has less than 12 months work experience in a particular practice setting or with a particular skill.

2.        Not less than general supervision if the occupational ther- apy assistant has more than 12 months but less than 24 months of experience in a particular practice setting or with a particular skill.

3.        Not less than minimal supervision if an occupational ther- apy assistant has more than 24 months of experience in a particular practice setting or with a particular skill.

4.        Increased level of supervision, if necessary, for the safety of a patient or client.

Historical Note

Emergency rule adopted effective December 12, 1991, pursuant to A.R.S. § 41-1026, valid for only 90 days (Supp. 91-4). Emergency rule adopted again effective March 11, 1992, pursuant to A.R.S. § 41-1026, valid for only 90 days (Supp. 92-1). Emergency rule adopted again effective June 5, 1992, pursuant to A.R.S. § 41-1026, valid for only 90 days (Supp. 92-2). Emergency expired.

Emergency rule adopted again effective September 8, 1992, pursuant to A.R.S. § 41-1026, valid for only 90 days (Supp. 92-2). Adopted with changes effective Octo- ber 14, 1992 (Supp. 92-4). Amended by final rulemaking

at 6 A.A.R. 707, effective January 25, 2000 (Supp. 00-1).