Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1150-02-.02

Current through December 10, 2024

Section 1150-02-.02 - SCOPE OF PRACTICE

(1) The license to practice as an Occupational Therapist or an Occupational Therapy Assistant is prescribed and limited by the Tennessee Code Annotated (see especially T.C.A. § 63-13-103). The license is conferred by the Board of Occupational Therapy for applicants who have been found to meet established standards.

(2) The Board adopts for licensed occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants, as if fully set out herein, and as it may from time to time be amended, the current "Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics" issued by the American Occupational Therapy Association and the "Candidate / Certificant Code of Conduct" approved by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, except to the extent that it conflicts with the laws of the state of Tennessee or the rules of the Board. If either document conflicts with state law or rules, the state law or rules govern the matter. Information to acquire copies may be obtained by contacting the following:

(a) The American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. 4720 Montgomery Lane PO Box 31220 Bethesda, MD 20824-1220 Telephone: (301) 652-2682 Fax: (301) 652-7711 TDD: (800) 377-8555 Internet: www.aota.org	The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. 800 South Frederick Ave. Suite 200 Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150 Telephone (301) 990-7979 Fax (301) 869-8492 Internet : www.nbcot.org
(b) Board of Occupational Therapy 227 French Landing, Suite 300 Heritage Place, MetroCenter Nashville, TN 37243 Telephone: (615) 532-3202 ext. 25135 Telephone: (800) 778-4123 ext. 25135 Fax: (615) 532-5164 Internet: www.tennessee.gov/health

(3) "Occupational therapy practice" means the therapeutic use of everyday life activities (occupations) for the purpose of enabling individuals or groups to participate in roles and situations in home, school, workplace, community and other settings. Occupational therapy addresses the physical, cognitive, psychosocial and sensory aspects of performance in a variety of contexts to support engagement in occupations that affect health, well-being and quality of life. Occupational therapy practice includes, but is not limited to:

(a) The screening, evaluation, assessment, planning, implementation and discharge planning of an occupational therapy program or services in consultation with the client, family members, caregivers and other appropriate persons;

(b) Selection and administration of standardized and non-standardized tests and measurements to evaluate factors affecting activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, education, work, play, leisure and social participation, including:

1. Body functions and body structures;

2. Habits, routines, roles and behavior patterns;

3. Cultural, physical, environmental, social and spiritual context and activity demands that affect performance; and

4. Performance skills, including motor, process and communication/interaction skills;

(c) Methods or strategies selected to direct the process of interventions, such as:

1. Modification or adaptation of an activity or the environment to enhance performance;

2. Establishment, remediation or restoration of a skill or ability that has not yet developed or is impaired;

3. Maintenance and enhancement of capabilities without which performance in occupations would decline;

4. Health promotion and wellness to enable or enhance performance and safety of occupations; and

5. Prevention of barriers to performance, including disability prevention;

(d) Interventions and procedures to promote or enhance safety and performance in activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, education, work, play, leisure and social participation, including:

1. Therapeutic use of occupations, exercises and activities;

2. Training in self-care, self-management, home management and community/work reintegration;

3. Development, remediation or compensation of physical, cognitive, neuromuscular and sensory functions and behavioral skills;

4. Therapeutic use of self, including an individual's personality, insights, perceptions and judgments as part of the therapeutic process;

5. Education and training of individuals, family members, caregivers and others;

6. Care coordination, case management, discharge planning and transition services;

7. Consulting services to groups, programs, organizations or communities;

8. Assessment, recommendations and training in techniques and equipment to enhance functional mobility, including wheelchair management;

9. Driver rehabilitation and community mobility; and

10. Management of feeding and eating skills to enable feeding and eating performance;

(e) Management of occupational therapy services, including the planning, organizing, staffing, coordinating, directing or controlling of individuals and organizations;

(f) Providing instruction in occupational therapy to students in an accredited occupational therapy or occupational therapy assistant educational program by persons who are trained as occupational therapists or occupational therapy assistants; and

(g) Administration, interpretation and application of research to occupational therapy services.

(4) Occupational therapy services are provided for the purpose of promoting health and wellness to those clients who have, or are at risk of developing, illness, injury, disease, disorder, impairment, disability, activity limitation or participation restriction and may include:

(a) Training in the use of prosthetic devices;

(b) Assessment, design, development, fabrication, adaptation, application, fitting and training in the use of assistive technology and adaptive and selective orthotic devices;

(c) Application of physical agent modalities with proper training and certification;

(d) Assessment and application of ergonomic principles;

(e) Adaptation or modification of environments (home, work, school or community) and use of a range of therapeutic procedures (such as wound care management, techniques to enhance sensory, perceptual and cognitive processing, and manual therapy techniques) to enhance performance skills, occupational performance or the promotion of health and wellness.

(5) Occupational therapy practice may occur in a variety of settings, including, but not limited to:

(a) Institutional inpatient settings, such as acute rehabilitation facilities, psychiatric hospitals, community and specialty hospitals, nursing facilities and prisons;

(b) Outpatient settings, such as clinics, medical offices and therapist offices;

(c) Home and community settings, such as homes, group homes, assisted living facilities, schools, early intervention centers, daycare centers, industrial and business facilities, hospices, sheltered workshops, wellness and fitness centers and community mental health facilities;

(d) Research facilities; and

(e) Educational institutions.

(6) Occupational therapy practice includes specialized services provided by occupational therapists or occupational therapy assistants who are certified or trained in areas of specialization, which include, but are not limited to, hand therapy, neurodevelopmental treatment, sensory integration, pediatrics, geriatrics and neurorehabilitation, through programs approved by AOTA or other nationally recognized organizations.

(7) Universal Precautions for the Prevention of HIV Transmission - The Board adopts, as if fully set out herein, rules 1200-14-03-.01 through 1200-14-03-.03 inclusive, of the Department of Health and as they may from time to time be amended, as its rule governing the process for implementing universal precautions for the prevention of HIV transmission for health care workers under its jurisdiction.

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1150-02-.02

Original rule filed March 15, 1996; effective May 29, 1996. Amendment filed March 21, 1996; effective June 4, 1996. Amendment filed February 13, 2002; effective April 29, 2002. Amendment filed March 10, 2005; effective May 24, 2005. Amendment filed April 17, 2007; effective July 1, 2007. References to Board of Occupational and Physical Therapy Examiners has been changed by The Secretary of State to the Applicable entity; Board of Occupational Therapy and/or Board of Physical Therapy pursuant to Public Chapter 115 of the 2007 Session of the Tennessee General Assembly.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-202, 4-5-204, 63-13-102, 63-13-103, 63-13-104, 63-13-108, 63-13-202, and 63-13-203.