22 Tex. Admin. Code § 321.1 - Definitions
The following words, terms, and phrases, when used in the rules of the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
(1) Accredited curriculum in physical therapy
education--A body of courses in a physical therapy program at a school,
college, or university which has satisfied the accreditation standards of the
Commission on Accreditation for Physical Therapy Education.
(2) Accredited physical therapist assistant
program--A body of courses at a school, college, or university which has
satisfied the accreditation standards of the Commission on Accreditation for
Physical Therapy Education.
(3)
Asymptomatic--Without obvious signs or symptoms of disease.
(4) Board-approved organization or entity--an
organization or entity to which the board has formally delegated a role in the
licensure, regulation or enforcement functions of the Physical Therapy Practice
Act and board rules.
(5)
Endorsement--The process by which the board issues a license to a person
currently licensed in another state, the District of Columbia, or territory of
the United States that maintains professional standards considered by the board
to be substantially equivalent to those set forth in the Act.
(6) Emergency circumstances--Instances where
emergency medical care is called for, including first aid.
(7) Emergency medical care--Bona fide
emergency services provided after the sudden onset of a medical condition
manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity, including severe
pain, such that the absence of immediate medical attention could reasonably be
expected to result in placing the patient's health in serious jeopardy, serious
impairment to bodily functions, or serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or
part.
(8) Evaluation--A dynamic
process in which the physical therapist makes clinical judgments based on data
gathered during the examination.
(9) Evidence satisfactory to the
board--Should all official school records be destroyed, sworn affidavits
satisfactory to the board must be received from three persons having personal
knowledge of the applicant's physical therapy education. These affidavits will
not be used when official school records are available.
(10) Examination--A comprehensive screening
and specific testing process leading to diagnostic classification or, as
appropriate, to a referral to another practitioner. The examination has three
components: the patient/client history, the systems review, and tests and
measures.
(11) Foreign-trained
applicant--Any applicant whose entry-level professional physical therapy
education was obtained at a physical therapy program outside the U.S., its
territories, or the District of Columbia.
(12) Hearing--An adjudicative proceeding
concerning the issuance, denial, suspension, reprimand, revocation of license,
after which the legal rights of an applicant or licensee are to be determined
by the board.
(13) Jurisprudence
exam--An open-book examination made up of multiple-choice and/or true/false
questions covering information contained in the Texas Physical Therapy Practice
Act and Board rules.
(14) On-site
supervision--The physical therapist or physical therapist assistant is on the
premises and readily available to respond.
(15) Physical therapy--The evaluation,
examination, and utilization of exercises, rehabilitative procedures, massage,
manipulations, and physical agents including, but not limited to, mechanical
devices, heat, cold, air, light, water, electricity, and sound in the aid of
diagnosis or treatment. Physical therapists may perform evaluations without
referrals. Physical therapy practice includes the use of modalities,
procedures, and tests to make evaluations. Physical therapy practice includes,
but is not limited to the use of: Electromyographic (EMG) Tests, Nerve
Conduction Velocity (NCV) Tests, Thermography, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve
Stimulation (TENS), bed traction, application of topical medication to open
wounds, sharp debridement, provision of soft goods, inhibitive casting and
splinting, Phonophoresis, Iontophoresis, and biofeedback services.
(16) Supervision--The delegation and
continuing direction by a person or persons responsible for the practice of
physical therapist, physical therapist assistant, or physical therapy aide as
specified in the Physical Therapy Practice Act.
Notes
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