LAC 46:LIV.333. Physical Therapist Responsibilities; Supervision of Physical Therapist Assistants [Formerly §321]

A. A supervising PT of record is responsible for and shall participate in the patient's care. 1. conducting the initial patient evaluation and documenting a plan of care for the patient; 2. treating and reassessing the patient at least every sixth treatment day or every 30 days, whichever occurs first; 3. treating the patient for the final treatment session unless the patient is physically unavailable; and 4. writing the discharge summary. B. A Supervising PT of Record shall comply with the following requirements in providing patient care and in supervising PTAs. 1. The level of responsibility assigned to a PTA is at the discretion of the supervising PT of record who is ultimately responsible for the care provided by this PTA. 2. In all settings, the Supervising PT of Record shall: a. perform an initial physical therapy evaluation and create the plan of care on each patient prior to delegation of treatment; b. treat and reassess the patient at least every sixth treatment day or every 30 days, whichever occurs first; c. treat and assess the patient for his final treatment session when feasible, as defined in §123, and write a discharge summary; d. be readily accessible by telecommunication device and available to the patient by the next scheduled treatment session upon request of the patient or PTA; and e. hold a patient care conference with a PTA regarding the patient. The PT is responsible for determining the frequency of the conferences consistent with accepted standards of practice; however, such conference shall occur at least every sixth treatment day or every 30 days, whichever occurs first. C. In a wellness setting, after conducting an appropriate screening as to suitability for wellness or preventive services, a PT may delegate the provision of client wellness or preventive services to a PTA or a technician to perform and/or assist in the implementation of wellness services.