Section 4. PT 5.001 is amended to read:
PT 5.001 Authority and purpose. The rules in this chapter are adopted by the board pursuant to the authority delegated by ss. 15.08 (5) (b), 227.11 (2), 448.52 (1m) (c), and 448.56 (6), Stats., and govern the practice and supervision of physical therapist assistants and the supervision of unlicensed personnel, physical therapist students, and physical therapist assistant students. Section 5. PT 5.01 (1) is amended to read:
PT 5.01 (1) A physical therapist assistant, as defined in s. 448.50 (3m), Stats., shall assist a physical therapist in the practice of physical therapy under the general supervision of a physical therapist. Section 6. PT 5.02 (1) and (2) (intro.), (e), (g), and (h) are amended to read:
PT 5.02 (1) A physical therapist shall provide direct, immediate, on−premises supervision of unlicensed personnel at all times. A The physical therapist may not direct unlicensed personnel to perform tasks which that require the decision making decision-making or problem solving problem-solving skills of a physical therapist, including but not limited to patient examination, evaluation, diagnosis, or determination of therapeutic intervention.
(2) (intro.) In providing direct, immediate, on−premises supervision, the physical therapist shall do all of the following:
(e) Determine the competence of personnel to perform assigned tasks based upon his or her education, training, and experience.
(g) Perform initial patient examination, evaluation, diagnosis, and prognosis, interpret referrals, develop and revise as appropriate a written patient treatment plan and program for each patient, and create and maintain a patient record for every patient the physical therapist treats.
(h) Provide interpretation of objective tests, measurements, and other data in developing and revising a physical therapy diagnosis, assessment, and treatment plan.
Section 7. PT 5.03 is created to read:
PT 5.03 Supervision of students.
(1) Except as provided under sub. (2), a physical therapist shall provide direct, immediate, on−premises supervision of a student at all times.
(2) (a) A physical therapist providing supervision of a physical therapist assistant student under sub. (1) may delegate that supervision to a physical therapist assistant. The delegating physical therapist shall, as required under s. PT 5.01, provide general supervision of the physical therapist assistant supervising the physical therapist assistant student. (b) A physical therapist assistant supervising a physical therapist assistant student under par. (a) shall provide face−to−face contact with the student, as necessary, and be physically present in the same building when a service is performed by the student.
(3) A physical therapist supervising a student under sub. (1) shall retain full professional responsibility for all physical therapy procedures and related tasks performed by the student, and shall delegate treatment plans and programs to the student in a manner consistent with the student’s education, training, and experience.
(4) A physical therapist delegating supervision of a physical therapist assistant student to a physical therapist assistant under sub. (2) shall retain full professional responsibility for all physical therapy procedures and related tasks performed by the physical therapist assistant and by the physical therapist assistant student, and shall delegate treatment plans and programs to the physical therapist assistant student in a manner consistent with the student’s education, training, and experience.
Section 8. PT 7.025 (6) is amended to read:
PT 7.025 (6) Permitting or assisting any person to perform acts constituting the practice of physical therapy without sufficient qualifications, necessary credentials, adequate informed consent, or adequate supervision as required under chs. PT 3 and 5. The physical therapist is responsible for determining whether general, direct, or one−on−one supervision is necessary to protect the patient from unacceptable risk of harm. The physical therapist retains responsibility for delegated or supervised acts, unless the board determines that the delegate knowingly and willfully violated the supervisor’s direction or instruction. Section 9. Effective date. The rules adopted in this order shall take effect on the first day of the month following publication in the Wisconsin Administrative Register, pursuant to s. 227.22 (2) (intro.), Stats. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(END OF TEXT OF RULE)
Dated _________________ Agency __________________________________
Chairperson
Physical Therapy Examining Board
