Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 16, § 1399 - Requirements for Use of Aides

(a) A physical therapy aide is an unlicensed person who may be utilized by a physical therapist in his or her practice by performing non-patient related tasks, or by performing patient related tasks.

(b) Prior to the aide providing patient related care, a physical therapist shall evaluate and document, the aide's competency level for performing the patient related task that the aide will provide in that setting. The record of competencies shall be made available to the board or any physical therapist utilizing that aide upon request.

(c) As used in these regulations:

(1) A "patient related task" means a physical therapy service rendered directly to the patient by an aide, excluding non-patient related tasks as defined below.

(2) A "non-patient related task" means a task related to observation of the patient, transport of patients, physical support only during gait or transfer, housekeeping duties, clerical duties and similar functions.

(3) "Under the orders, direction and immediate supervision" means:

(A) Prior to the initiation of care, the physical therapist shall evaluate every patient prior to the performance of any patient related tasks by the aide.

(B) The physical therapist shall formulate and record in the patient's record a treatment program based upon the evaluation and any other information available to the physical therapist, and shall determine those patient related tasks which may be assigned to an aide.

(C) The physical therapist shall assign only those patient related tasks that can be safely and effectively performed by the aide. The physical therapist shall be responsible at all times for the conduct of the aide while the aide is performing "patient related tasks" and "non-patient related tasks" as defined in this section.

(D) The physical therapist shall provide continuous and immediate supervision of the aide. The physical therapist shall be in the same facility as the aide and in immediate proximity to the location where the aide is performing patient related tasks. The physical therapist shall be readily available at all times to provide immediate advice, instruction or intervention in the care of the patient. When patient related tasks are provided to a patient by an aide the physical therapist shall at some point during the treatment day provide direct service to the patient as treatment for the patient's condition or to further evaluate and monitor the patient's progress.

(E) The physical therapist shall perform periodic re-evaluation of the patient as necessary and make adjustments in the patient's treatment program. The re-evaluation shall be documented in the patient's record.

Notes

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 16, § 1399

1. Amendment of subsection (b) filed 3-20-78; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 78, No. 12).
2. Amendment filed 8-13-81; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 81, No. 33).
3. Amendment of subsections (b)(1), (b)(2), (b)(4) and (b)(5) and new subsection (b)(6) filed 10-21-94; operative 11-21-94 (Register 94, No. 42).
4. Amendment filed 6-14-2011; operative 7-14-2011 (Register 2011, No. 24).
5. Change without regulatory effect amending NOTE filed 9-21-2015 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2015, No. 39).
6. Change without regulatory effect amending NOTE filed 7-6-2017 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2017, No. 27).

Note: Authority cited: Section 2615, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Section 2630.4, Business and Professions Code.

1. Amendment of subsection (b) filed 3-20-78; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 78, No. 12).
2. Amendment filed 8-13-81; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 81, No. 33).
3. Amendment of subsections (b)(1), (b)(2), (b)(4) and (b)(5) and new subsection (b)(6) filed 10-21-94; operative 11-21-94 (Register 94, No. 42).
4. Amendment filed 6-14-2011; operative 7-14-2011 (Register 2011, No. 24).
5. Change without regulatory effect amending Note filed 9-21-2015 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2015, No. 39).
6. Change without regulatory effect amending Note filed 7-6-2017 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2017, No. 27).