Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

     Purpose: The adopted rule eliminates unnecessary definitions, clarifies existing definitions, establishes supervision standards for occupational therapy assistants and aides consistent with the American Occupational Therapy Association, moves definitions from other sections to the definition section, and updates the name of the national testing agency. WAC 246-847-110 was not listed on the CR-102 notice form, but was included in the proposed rule text.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 246-847-130; amending WAC 246-847-010 and 246-847-110; and new section WAC 246-847-135.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.59.130.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 07-07-098 on March 19, 2007.

     Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: WAC 246-847-010 was changed to further clarify the definition of professional supervision. The change was not substantive.

     A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting Vicki Brown, Program Manager, Occupational Therapy Practice Board, P.O. Box 47867, Olympia, WA 98504-7867, phone (360) 236-4865, fax (360) 664-9077, e-mail vicki.brown@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     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 3, Amended 0, Repealed 1.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 3, Repealed 1.

     Date Adopted: October 1, 2007.

Mark T. Lehner, OT, Chair

Occupational Therapy Practice Board

OTS-9047.8

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 300B, filed 8/24/92, effective 9/24/92)

WAC 246-847-010   Definitions.   (((1) The following terms in RCW 18.59.020(2) shall mean:

     (a) "Scientifically based use of purposeful activity" is the treatment of individuals using established methodology based upon the behavioral and biological sciences and includes the analysis, application and adaptation of activities for use with individuals having a variety of physical, emotional, cognitive and social disorders. Use of purposeful activity includes a process of continually modifying treatment to meet the changing needs of an individual. Purposeful activity is goal-oriented and cannot be routinely prescribed.

     (b) "Teaching daily living skills" is the instruction in daily living skills based upon the evaluation of all the components of the individual's disability and the adaptation or treatment based on the evaluation. Components of a disability are physical, sensory, social, emotional and cognitive functions.

     (c) "Developing prevocational skills and play and avocational capabilities" is not only the development of prevocational skills and play and avocational capabilities but involves the scientifically based use of purposeful activity.

     (d) "Designing, fabricating, or applying selected orthotic and prosthetic devices or selected adaptive equipment" is not specific occupational therapy services if a person designs, fabricates, or applies selected orthotic and prosthetic devices or selected adaptive equipment for an individual if the device or equipment is prescribed or ordered by a health care professional authorized by the laws of the state of Washington to prescribe the device or equipment or direct the design, fabrication, or application of the device or equipment.

     (e) "Adapting environments for the handicapped" is the evaluation of all the components of an individual's disability and the adaptation of the environment of the individual based on the evaluation. Components of a disability are physical, sensory, social, emotional and cognitive functions.

     (2) "Supervision" and "regular consultation" of an occupational therapy assistant by an occupational therapist in RCW 18.59.020(4) and "direct supervision" of a person holding a limited permit by an occupational therapist in RCW 18.59.040(7) shall mean face to face meetings between the occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistant and between the occupational therapist and holder of a limited permit occurring at intervals as determined necessary by the occupational therapist to establish, review, or revise the client's treatment objectives. The meetings shall be documented and the documentation shall be maintained in each client's treatment record. The failure to meet to establish, review, or revise the client's treatment objectives at sufficient intervals to meet the client's needs shall be grounds for disciplinary action against the occupational therapist's license and/or the occupational therapy assistant's license to practice in the state of Washington and/or the limited permit pursuant to WAC 246-847-160 (4) and (14), 246-847-170 (2) and (3) and RCW 18.59.100 for conduct occurring prior to June 11, 1986 and pursuant to RCW 18.130.180 for conduct occurring on or after June 11, 1986.

     (3) "Professional supervision" of an occupational therapy aide in RCW 18.59.020(5) shall mean:

     (a) Documented training by the occupational therapist of the occupational therapy aide in each specific occupational therapy technique for each specific client and the training shall be performed on the client;

     (b) Face to face meetings between the occupational therapy aide and the supervising occupational therapist or an occupational therapy assistant under the direction of the supervising occupational therapist occurring at intervals as determined by the occupational therapist to meet the client's needs, but shall occur at least once every two weeks; and

     (c) The occupational therapist shall observe the occupational therapy aide perform on the client the specific occupational therapy techniques for which the occupational therapy aide was trained at intervals as determined by the occupational therapist to meet the client's needs, but shall occur at least once a month.

     The meetings and client contacts shall be documented and the documentation shall be maintained in the client's treatment records. The failure to meet at sufficient intervals to meet the client's needs shall be grounds for disciplinary action against the occupational therapist's license to practice in the state of Washington pursuant to WAC 246-847-160 (4) and (14), 246-847-170 (2) and (3) and RCW 18.59.100 for conduct occurring prior to June 11, 1986 and pursuant to RCW 18.130.180 for conduct occurring on or after June 11, 1986.

     (4) Sections (2) and (3) of this rule shall not be effective until July 1, 1985.

     (5) "Clients" include patients, students, and those to whom occupational therapy services are delivered.

     (6) "Evaluation" is the process of obtaining and interpreting data necessary for treatment, which includes, but is not limited to, planning for and documenting the evaluation process and results. The evaluation data may be gathered through record review, specific observation, interview, and the administration of data collection procedures, which include, but are not limited to, the use of standardized tests, performance checklists, and activities and tasks designed to evaluate specific performance abilities.

     (7) "Work site" in RCW 18.59.080 means the primary work location.

     (8) "In association" for RCW 18.59.040(7) shall mean practicing in a setting in which another occupational therapist licensed in the state of Washington is available for consultation and assistance as needed to provide protection for the clients' health, safety and welfare.

     (9) One "contact hour" is considered to be fifty minutes.

     (10) "Peer reviewer" shall mean a licensed occupational therapist chosen by the licensee to review the self study plan and verify that the self study activity meets the objectives for peer reviewed self study as defined in WAC 246-847-065.)) The following terms in this section apply throughout this chapter and have the following meanings:

     (1) "Adapting environments for individuals with disabilities" includes assessing needs, identifying strategies, implementing and training in the use of strategies, and evaluating outcomes. Occupational therapy focuses on the interaction of an individual's skills and abilities, the features of the environment, and the demands and purposes of activities.

     (2) "Clients" include patients, students, and those to whom occupational therapy services are delivered.

     (3) "Client-related tasks" are routine tasks during which the aide may interact with the client but does not act as a primary service provider of occupational therapy services. The following factors must be present when an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant delegates a selected client-related task to the aide:

     (a) The outcome anticipated for the delegated task is predictable;

     (b) The situation of the client and the environment is stable and will not require that judgment, interpretations, or adaptations be made by the aide;

     (c) The client has demonstrated some previous performance ability in executing the task; and

     (d) The task routine and process have been clearly established.

     (4) "Commonly accepted standards for the profession" in RCW 18.59.040 (5)(b) and 18.59.070 shall mean having passed the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy or its successor/predecessor organization, not having engaged in unprofessional conduct or gross incompetency as established by the board in WAC 246-847-160 for conduct occurring prior to June 11, 1986, and as established in RCW 18.130.180 for conduct occurring on or after June 11, 1986.

     (5) "Consultation" means that practitioners are expected to function as consultants within the scope of practice appropriate to their level of competence.

     (6) "Developing prevocational skills and play and avocational capabilities" also involves the scientifically based use of purposeful activity.

     (7) "Direct supervision" as described in RCW 18.59.040(7) means daily, in-person contact at the site where services are provided by an occupational therapist licensed in the state of Washington.

     (8) "Evaluation" is the process of obtaining and interpreting data necessary for treatment, which includes, but is not limited to, planning for and documenting the evaluation process and results. The evaluation data may be gathered through record review, specific observation, interview, and the administration of data collection procedures, which include, but are not limited to, the use of standardized tests, performance checklists, and activities and tasks designed to evaluate specific performance abilities.

     (9) "In association" as described in RCW 18.59.040(7) means practicing in a setting in which an occupational therapist licensed in the state of Washington is available on the premises for supervision, consultation, and assistance as needed to provide protection for the client's health, safety and welfare.

     (10) "Occupational therapy aide" means a person who is trained by an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant to perform client and nonclient related tasks. Occupational therapy aides are not primary service providers of occupational therapy in any practice setting. Occupational therapy aides do not provide skilled occupational therapy services.

     (11) "Professional supervision" of an occupational therapy aide as described in RCW 18.59.020(5) means in-person contact at the treatment site by an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant licensed in the state of Washington. When client related tasks are provided by an occupational therapy aide more than once a week, professional supervision must occur at least weekly. When client related tasks are provided by an occupational therapy aide once a week or less, professional supervision must occur at least once every two weeks.

     (12) "Regular consultation" as described in RCW 18.59.020(4) means in-person contact at least monthly by an occupational therapist licensed in the state of Washington with supervision available as needed by other methods which include but are not limited to phone and e-mail.

     (13) "Scientifically based use of purposeful activity" is the treatment of individuals using established methodology based upon the behavioral and biological sciences and includes the therapeutic use of everyday life activities (occupations) with individuals or groups for the purpose of participation in roles and situations in home, school, workplace, community, and other settings. "Occupations" are activities having unique meaning and purpose in an individual's life.

     (14) "Teaching daily living skills" is the instruction in daily living skills based upon the evaluation of all the components of the individual's disability and the adaptation or treatment based on the evaluation.

     (15) "Working days" in RCW 18.59.040(5) shall mean consecutive calendar days.

     (16) "Work site" in RCW 18.59.080 means the primary work location.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.59.130. 92-18-015 (Order 300B), § 246-847-010, filed 8/24/92, effective 9/24/92; 91-11-064 (Order 171B), § 246-847-010, filed 5/16/91, effective 6/16/91; 91-05-027 (Order 112B), recodified as § 246-847-010, filed 2/12/91, effective 3/15/91. Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.59 RCW. 90-16-071 (Order 075), § 308-171-001, filed 7/30/90, effective 8/30/90. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.59.130 and 18.130.050. 87-09-044 (Order PM 645), § 308-171-001, filed 4/14/87. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.59.130(2) and 18.130.050(1). 86-17-064 (Order PM 610), § 308-171-001, filed 8/19/86. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.59.130(2) and 18.59.020(5). 86-10-004 (Order PL 588), § 308-171-001, filed 4/24/86. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.59.130(2). 85-12-010 (Order PL 529), § 308-171-001, filed 5/23/85. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.59.130(2) and 18.59.020. 85-05-008 (Order PL 513), § 308-171-001, filed 2/11/85.]

     (a) In which state(s) the individual is licensed to perform occupational therapy services and the license number(s); and

     (b) The name, address, and telephone number of at least one facility or employer where the individual has been engaged in the practice of occupational therapy within the preceding four years; or

     (c) If the exemption is claimed ((pursuant to)) under RCW 18.59.040 (5)(b), the individual ((shall)) must submit a signed notarized statement attesting to:

     (i) Having passed the ((American Occupational Therapy Certification Board)) National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy examination or its successor/predecessor organization; and

     (ii) Having engaged in occupational therapy practice within the preceding four years, including the name, address, and telephone number of at least one facility or employer during this period;

     (iii) Not having engaged in unprofessional conduct ((or gross incompetency as established in WAC 246-847-160 for conduct occurring prior to June 11, 1986 and as established in)) under RCW 18.130.180 ((for conduct occurring on or after June 11, 1986; and not having been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude or a felony relating to the profession of occupational therapy)); and

     (d) A signed notarized statement describing when the occupational therapy services will be performed, where the occupational therapy services will be performed, and how long the individual will be performing occupational therapy services in this state.

     (2) A ninety-day temporary permit must be received by the occupational therapist prior to rendering of occupational therapy services.

     (((3) "Working days" in RCW 18.59.040(5) shall mean consecutive calendar days.))

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.59.130. 92-18-015 (Order 300B), § 246-847-110, filed 8/24/92, effective 9/24/92; 91-11-064 (Order 171B), § 246-847-110, filed 5/16/91, effective 6/16/91; 91-05-027 (Order 112B), recodified as § 246-847-110, filed 2/12/91, effective 3/15/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.59.130(2) and 18.59.050(1). 86-17-064 (Order PM 610), § 308-171-103, filed 8/19/86. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.59.130(2) and 18.59.040 (5)(b). 86-10-004 (Order PL 588), § 308-171-103, filed 4/24/86. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.59.130(2). 85-12-010 (Order PL 529), § 308-171-103, filed 5/23/85.]

     (1) Licensed occupational therapy assistants must be supervised through regular consultation by an occupational therapist licensed in the state of Washington. Regular consultation must be documented and the documentation must be kept in a location determined by the supervising occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant.

     (2)(a) A limited permit holder must work in association with an occupational therapist licensed in the state of Washington with a minimum of one year of experience. "In association with" shall include consultation regarding evaluation, intervention, progress, reevaluation and discharge planning of each assigned patient at appropriate intervals and documented by cosignature of notes by the supervising occupational therapist.

     (b) Limited permit holders who have failed the examination must be directly supervised by an occupational therapist licensed in the state of Washington with a minimum of one year of experience. Direct supervision must include consultation regarding evaluation, intervention, progress, reevaluation and discharge planning of each assigned patient at appropriate intervals and documented by cosignature of notes by the supervising occupational therapist.

     (3) Occupational therapy aides must be professionally supervised and trained by an occupational therapist or an occupational therapy assistant licensed in the state of Washington. Professional supervision must include documented supervision and training.

     (a) The occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant shall train the occupational therapy aide on client and nonclient related tasks at least once a month.

     (b) When performing client related tasks, the occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant must ensure the occupational therapy aide is trained and competent in performing the task on the specific client.

     (c) The documentation must be maintained in a location determined by the supervising occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant.

     (4) Definitions can be found in WAC 246-847-010.

[]

     The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:

WAC 246-847-130

Definition of "commonly accepted standards for the profession."

© Washington State Code Reviser's Office