NAC640.590. Treatment of patient; delegation of treatment.

     1. A physical therapist shall supervise any program of treatment which is delegated to a physical therapist’s assistant.

     2. A physical therapist shall:

     (a) Interpret the record of a patient who is referred to the physical therapist by a provider of health care;

     (b) Perform the initial evaluation of a patient and identify any problem of the patient;

     (c) Develop a plan of care for a patient based upon the initial evaluation of the patient, which includes the goal of the treatment of the patient;

     (d) Determine the appropriate portion of the program of treatment to be delegated to a physical therapist’s assistant;

     (e) Delegate the treatment to be administered by the physical therapist’s assistant to a patient;

     (f) Instruct the physical therapist’s assistant regarding:

          (1) The specific program of treatment of a patient;

          (2) Any precaution to be taken to protect a patient;

          (3) Any special problem of a patient;

          (4) Any procedure which should not be administered to a patient;

          (5) The proper methods for documenting the treatment that is administered to the patient; and

          (6) Any other information required to treat a patient;

     (g) Review the program of treatment of a patient in a timely manner;

     (h) Document the goal of treatment of a patient;

     (i) Revise the plan of care when indicated;

     (j) Review the documentation of the treatment that is administered to a patient by a physical therapist’s assistant during periodic reviews of the patient and make note of those reviews in the evaluation or reassessment of the patient;

     (k) Provide for case management and dissemination of any written and oral reports; and

     (l) Perform the final evaluation upon the discharge of the patient from the care of the physical therapist to terminate a program of treatment unless the treatment is terminated by a patient or a referring provider of health care.

     3. A physical therapist shall not delegate to a person who is less qualified than a physical therapist any program of treatment which requires the unique skills, knowledge and judgment of a physical therapist.

     4. A physical therapist shall not delegate the following duties to a physical therapist’s assistant or a person who is not licensed by the Board:

     (a) Any activity which requires the unique skills, knowledge and judgment of a physical therapist; and

     (b) The planning of an initial program of treatment and any subsequent program of treatment based on the results of tests performed on a patient.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Phys. Therapy Exam’rs, eff. 6-11-90; A 12-27-93; 3-28-95)