PERMANENT RULES
(Board of Physical Therapy)
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Purpose: WAC 246-915-187 clarifies that telehealth is within the scope of practice of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, clearly defines what telehealth is, clarifies that physical therapy provided via telehealth must meet all standard of care requirements and specifies that the use of telehealth must be documented in the patient health record.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.74.023 and 18.74.025.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 10-20-158 on October 6, 2010.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: November 17, 2010.
Paula Mays
Board Chair
OTS-3095.4
NEW SECTION
WAC 246-915-187
Use of telehealth in the practice of
physical therapy.
(1) Licensed physical therapists and
physical therapist assistants may provide physical therapy via
telehealth following all requirements for standard of care,
including those defined in chapters 18.74 RCW and 246-915 WAC.
(2) The physical therapist or physical therapist assistant must identify in the clinical record that the physical therapy occurred via telehealth.
(3) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
(a) "Telehealth" means providing physical therapy via electronic communication where the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant and the patient are not at the same physical location.
(b) "Electronic communication" means the use of interactive, secure multimedia equipment that includes, at a minimum, audio and video equipment permitting two-way, real time interactive communication between the physical therapist or the physical therapist assistant and the patient.
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