§ 10-101. Definitions

   (a) In general. -- In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.

(b) ACOTE. -- "ACOTE" means the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education.

(c) Aide. -- "Aide" means any individual who:

   (1) Is not licensed by the Board to perform occupational therapy or limited occupational therapy; and

   (2) Provides supportive services to the occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant under direct supervision.

(d) Board. -- "Board" means the State Board of Occupational Therapy Practice.

(e) Direct supervision. -- "Direct supervision" means supervision provided on a face-to-face basis by a supervising therapist when delegated client-related tasks are performed.

(f) License. -- "License" means, unless the context requires otherwise, a license issued by the Board to practice:

   (1) Occupational therapy; or

   (2) Limited occupational therapy.

(g) Licensed occupational therapist. -- "Licensed occupational therapist" means, unless the context requires otherwise, an occupational therapist who is licensed by the Board to practice occupational therapy.

(h) Licensed occupational therapy assistant. -- "Licensed occupational therapy assistant" means, unless the context requires otherwise, an occupational therapy assistant who is licensed by the Board to practice limited occupational therapy.

(i) Limited occupational therapy. --

   (1) "Limited occupational therapy" means participation, while under the periodic supervision of a licensed occupational therapist, in:

      (i) An initial screening and evaluation that applies the principles and procedures of occupational therapy; and

      (ii) A treatment program that applies the principles and procedures of occupational therapy.

   (2) "Limited occupational therapy" does not include:

      (i) Initiation and interpretation of evaluation data; and

      (ii) Initiation of a treatment program before the client has been evaluated and a licensed occupational therapist has rendered a treatment plan.

(j) NBCOT. -- "NBCOT" means the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy.

(k) Occupational therapist. -- "Occupational therapist" means an individual who practices occupational therapy.

(l) Occupational therapy. -- "Occupational therapy" means the therapeutic use of purposeful and meaningful goal-directed activities to evaluate, consult, and treat individuals who:

   (1) Have a disease or disorder, impairment, activity limitation, or participation restriction that interferes with their ability to function independently in daily life roles; or

   (2) Benefit from the prevention of impairments and activity limitations.

(m) Occupational therapy assistant. -- "Occupational therapy assistant" means an individual who practices limited occupational therapy.

(n) Occupational therapy practice; limited occupational therapy practice. -- "Occupational therapy practice" or "limited occupational therapy practice" means to carry out a treatment program that applies the principles and procedures of occupational therapy.

(o) Occupational therapy principles. -- "Occupational therapy principles" include:

   (1) The use of therapeutic activities that promote independence in daily life roles;

   (2) Remediation or restoration of performance abilities that are limited due to impairment in biological, physiological, psychological, or neurological processes;

   (3) In order to enhance performance, the adaption of task, process, or the environment, or the teaching of compensatory techniques;

   (4) Methods and techniques for preventing disability that facilitate the development or safe application of performance skills;

   (5) Health promotion strategies and practices that enhance performance abilities; and

   (6) Education, instruction, and research in the practice of occupational therapy.

(p) Occupational therapy procedures. --

   (1) "Occupational therapy procedures" include:

      (i) Developing, improving, sustaining, or restoring skills in activities of daily living, work, or productive activities, including:

         1. Instrumental activities of daily activity; and

         2. Play and leisure activities;

      (ii) Developing, remediating, or restoring sensorimotor, perceptual, cognitive, or psychological components of performance;

      (iii) Designing, fabricating, applying, or training in the use of assistive technology, splinting, or orthotic devices, including training in the use of prosthetic devices;

      (iv) Adapting environments and processes, including the application of ergonomic principles to enhance performance and safety in daily life roles;

      (v) Applying physical agent modalities as adjuncts to or in preparation for purposeful activity with appropriate training, as specified by the Board in regulations;

      (vi) Promoting safe, functional mobility in daily life tasks;

      (vii) Providing intervention in collaboration with the client, the client's family, the client's caregiver, or others;

      (viii) Educating the client, the client's family, the client's caregiver, or others in carrying out appropriate nonskilled interventions; and

      (ix) Consulting with groups, programs, organizations, and communities to provide population-based services.

   (2) "Occupational therapy procedures" do not include the adjustment or manipulation of any of the osseous structures of the body or spine.

(q) On-site supervision. -- "On-site supervision" means supervision in which a supervisor is immediately available on a face-to-face basis when client procedures are performed or as otherwise necessary.

(r) Periodic supervision. --

   (1) "Periodic supervision" means supervision by a licensed occupational therapist on a face-to-face basis, occurring the earlier of at least:

      (i) Once every 10 therapy visits; or

      (ii) Once every 30 calendar days.

   (2) "Periodic supervision" includes:

      (i) Chart review; and

      (ii) Meetings to discuss client treatment plans, client response, or observation of treatment.

(s) Supervision. -- "Supervision" means aid, direction, and instruction provided by an occupational therapist to adequately ensure the safety and welfare of clients during the course of occupational therapy.

(t) Temporary license. -- "Temporary license" means a license issued by the Board under and as limited by § 10-313 of this title to practice:

   (1) Occupational therapy; or

   (2) Limited occupational therapy.

HISTORY: An. Code 1957, art. 43, § 911; 1981, ch. 8, § 2; 1990, ch. 6, § 11; 2000, ch. 412; 2001, ch. 29, § 1; ch. 65; 2010, ch. 72.