R4-43-401. Supervision of Occupational Therapy Assistants

A. Only a licensed occupational therapist shall: 1. Prepare an initial treatment plan, initiate or re-evaluate a client or patient’s treatment plan, or authorize in writing a change of a treatment plan; 2. Delegate duties to a licensed occupational therapy assistant, designate an assistant’s duties, and assign a level of supervision; and 3. Authorize a patient discharge. B. A licensed occupational therapy assistant shall not: 1. Evaluate or develop a treatment plan independently; 2. Initiate a treatment plan before a client or patient is evaluated and a treatment plan is prepared by an occupational therapist; 3. Continue a treatment procedure appearing harmful to a patient or client until the procedure is reevaluated by an occupational therapist; or 4. Continue or discontinue occupational therapy services unless the treatment plan is approved or re-approved by a supervising occupational therapist. C. A supervising occupational therapist shall supervise a licensed occupational therapy assistant as follows: 1. Not less than routine supervision if the occupational therapy assistant has less than 12 months work experience in a particular practice setting or with a particular skill. 2. Not less than general supervision if the occupational therapy assistant has more than 12 months but less than 24 months of experience in a particular practice setting or with a particular skill. 3. Not less than minimal supervision if an occupational therapy assistant has more than 24 months of experience in a particular practice setting or with a particular skill. 4. Increased level of supervision, if necessary, for the safety of a patient or client.