43-26.1-11. Patient care management

43-26.1-11. Patient care management 1. A physical therapist shall manage all aspects of each patient's physical therapy. A physical therapist shall provide: a. Each patient's initial evaluation and documentation. b. Periodic re-evaluation and documentation of each patient. c. The documented discharge of the patient, including the response to therapeutic intervention at the time of discharge. 2. If the diagnostic process reveals findings outside the scope of a physical therapist's knowledge, experience, or expertise, a physical therapist shall inform the patient or client and refer the patient or client to an appropriate practitioner. 3. A physical therapist shall assure the qualifications of a physical therapist assistant and physical therapy aide under the physical therapist's direction and supervision. 4. For each patient on each date of service, a physical therapist shall provide all of the therapeutic intervention that requires the expertise of a physical therapist and shall determine the use of physical therapist assistants that provide for the delivery of care that is safe, effective, and efficient. a. A physical therapist assistant shall work under the supervision of a physical therapist. A physical therapist assistant may document care provided without the cosignature of the supervising physical therapist. b. A physical therapist may use physical therapy aides for designated routine tasks. A physical therapy aide shall work under the direct supervision of a physical therapist. This supervision may extend to general supervision of the physical therapy aide only when the physical therapy aide is accompanying and working directly with a physical therapist assistant with a specific patient or when performing non-patient-related tasks. 5. A physical therapist's or physical therapist assistant's responsibility for patient care management includes accurate documentation and billing of the services provided. 6. The physical therapist shall communicate the overall plan of care with, and obtain informed consent from, the patient or the patient's legally authorized representative.