Purpose: This rule will provide specific guidance related to the professional responsibility of an occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistant to establish, review, and revise client treatment objectives to meet the client's needs. Further clarity will ensure quality care to the public by providing the occupational therapy practitioner with specific guidance while ongoing treatment occurs.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-847-170 Code of ethics and standards of professional conduct.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.59.130 and 18.130.050.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 05-17-051 on August 9, 2005.

     A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting Kris Waidely, P.O. Box 47867, Olympia, WA 98504-7867, phone (360) 236-4847, fax (360) 664-9077, e-mail kris.waidely@doh.wa.gov.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: October 21, 2005.

Mark Lehner, OT, Chair

Occupational Therapy

Practice Board

OTS-7056.2

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 112B, filed 2/12/91, effective 3/15/91)

WAC 246-847-170   Code of ethics and standards of professional conduct.   (1) It is the professional responsibility of occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants to provide services for clients without regard to race, creed, national origin, gender, handicap or religious affiliation.

     (2) Treatment objectives and the therapeutic process must be formulated to ensure professional accountability.

     (3) Services shall be goal-directed in accordance with the overall educational, habilitation or rehabilitation plan and shall include a system to ensure professional accountability.

     (4) Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants shall recommend termination of services when established goals have been met or when further services would not produce improved client performance.

     (5) Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants shall accurately represent their competence, education, training and experience.

     (6) Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants shall only provide services and use techniques for which they are qualified by education, training, and experience.

     (7) Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants shall accurately record information and report information as required by facility standards and state and federal laws.

     (8) All data recorded in permanent files or records shall be supported by the occupational therapist or the occupational therapy assistant's observations or by objective measures of data collection.

     (9) Client's records shall only be divulged as authorized by law or with the client's consent for release of information.

     (10) Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants shall not delegate to other personnel those client-related services where the clinical skills and expertise of an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant are required.

     (11) If, after evaluating the client, the case is a medical case, the occupational therapist shall refer the case to a physician for appropriate medical direction if such direction is lacking.

     (a) Appropriate medical direction shall be sought on at least an annual basis.

     (b) A case is not a medical case if the following is present:

     (i) There is an absence of pathology; or

     (ii) If a pathology exists, the pathology has stabilized; and

     (iii) The occupational therapist is only treating the client's functional deficits.

     (12) Occupational therapists shall establish, review, or revise the client's treatment objectives at sufficient intervals to meet the client's needs. The occupational therapy assistant shall collaborate with the occupational therapist in this review of the client's treatment objectives.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.59.130. 91-05-027 (Order 112B), recodified as § 246-847-170, filed 2/12/91, effective 3/15/91; 90-22-011 (Order 094), § 308-171-301, filed 10/26/90, effective 11/26/90. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.59.130(2) and 18.130.050(1). 86-17-064 (Order PM 610), § 308-171-301, filed 8/19/86. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.59.130(2) and 18.59.100 (1)(b). 85-12-010 (Order PL 529), § 308-171-301, filed 5/23/85.]