The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter
unless the context indicates otherwise:
(1) "Board" means the Washington state board
of physical therapy.
(2) "CAPTE"
means the commission on accreditation for physical therapy education.
(3) "Close supervision" means that 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.
(4) "Consultation"
means a communication regarding a patient's evaluation and proposed treatment
plan with an authorized health care practitioner.
(5) "Department" means the Washington state
department of health.
(6) "Direct
supervision" means the supervisor shall:
(a)
Be continuously on-site and present where the person being supervised is
performing services;
(b) Be
immediately available to assist the person being supervised in the services
being performed; and
(c) 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 under
RCW
18.74.180.
(7) "Indirect supervision" means 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.
(8) "NPTE" means the National
Physical Therapy Examination.
(9)
"Other assistive personnel" means other trained or educated health care
personnel, not defined in subsection (13)(a) or (b) of this section, 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.
(10) "Physical
therapist" means a person who meets all the requirements of this chapter and is
licensed as a physical therapist under chapter 18.74 RCW.
(11) "Sharp debridement" means the removal of
devitalized tissue from a wound with scissors, scalpel, and tweezers without
anesthesia. Sharp debridement does not mean surgical debridement.
(12) "Spinal manipulation" includes spinal
manipulation, spinal manipulative therapy, high velocity thrust maneuvers, and
grade five mobilizations of the spine and its immediate
articulations.
(13) "Trained
supportive personnel" means:
(a) "Physical
therapist assistant" means 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; or
(b) "Physical therapy aide means 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.
