Chapter 490-8 PHYSICAL THERAPY AIDES: DEFINITION AND REQUIREMENTS

Rule 490-8-.01 Definition

A physical therapy aide, or anyone who holds himself out as being a physical therapy aide, is an individual other than a licensee under O.C.G.A. 43-33 who aids the licensed physical therapist or physical therapist assistant in the licensee's provision of physical therapy services and whose activities do not require technical training through a formal course of study.

Rule 490-8-.02 Supervision

The physical therapy aide must have direct supervision on the premises at all times when providing supportive activities for the physical therapist or the physical therapist assistant.

(a)	For purposes of this rule,"direct supervision" shall mean on the premises and immediately available at all times.

(b)	For purposes of this rule,"on the premises" shall mean the immediate area of the patient.

(c)	A licensee of this chapter may supervise a maximum of two (2) physical therapy aides when they are aiding the licensee's provision of patient evaluation and intervention.

Rule 490-8-.03 Duties

For purposes of this Rule, the term,"designated physical therapy tasks," as referenced in O.C.G.A. 43-33-13.1, shall be limited to the following:

(a)

Physical therapy aides may perform the following tasks independent of supervision by a licensed physical therapist or licensed physical therapist assistant:

1.

Clerical tasks excluding treatment documentation.

(i)

"Treatment Documentation" is defined for purposes of this Rule as the creation, generation, composition of any patient care report and shall include but not be limited to patient evaluations, assessment, plans of care, goals, progress notes, consultation reports, discharge summaries and any other written materials related to patient management.

(ii)

Nothing in this Rule shall preclude a physical therapy aide from transcribing, recording or copying treatment documentation generated by a licensee of this chapter. Any treatment documentation prepared in this or any manner, however, must be signed by the supervising licensed physical therapist or physical therapist assistant and by signing the treatment documentation, the licensee is representing that he or she either prepared the treatment documentation or supervised a physical therapy aide in the preparation of the treatment documentation consistent with the Laws and Rules Governing the Practice of Physical Therapy in the State of Georgia.

2.	transporting patients;

3.	assembling and disassembling equipment in treatment areas;

4.	housekeeping activities

(b)

The physical therapy aide, at the discretion of the licensee, may provide supportive activities to patient care when specifically meeting the criteria as set forth in 490-8-.02. Supportive activities or patient care tasks do not include the direct provision of any patient intervention, but do include only assisting a patient in preparation for treatment by a licensee, assisting a patient after cessation of treatment by a licensee, or assisting the licensee during treatment provided by that licensee. Licensed physical therapists and physical therapist assistants are the only providers of physical therapy.

Full Name:
Human verification: 5 + 8 =