As used in this chapter:

(1) “Occupational therapy” means the evaluation, planning and implementation of a program of purposeful activities to develop or maintain adaptive skills necessary to achieve the maximal physical and mental functioning of the individual in his or her daily pursuits. The practice of “occupational therapy” includes, but is not limited to, evaluation and treatment of individuals whose abilities to cope with the tasks of living are threatened or impaired by developmental disabilities, the aging process, learning disabilities, poverty and cultural differences, physical injury or disease, psychological and social disabilities, or anticipated dysfunction, using (A) such treatment techniques as task-oriented activities to prevent or correct physical or emotional disabilities or to minimize the disabling effect of these disabilities in the life of the individual, (B) such evaluation techniques as assessment of sensory motor abilities, assessment of the development of self-care activities and capacity for independence, assessment of the physical capacity for prevocational and work tasks, assessment of play and leisure performance, and appraisal of living areas for persons with disabilities, (C) specific occupational therapy techniques such as activities of daily living skills, the fabrication and application of splinting devices, sensory motor activities, the use of specifically designed manual and creative activities, guidance in the selection and use of adaptive equipment, specific exercises to enhance functional performance and treatment techniques for physical capabilities for work activities. Such techniques are applied in the treatment of individual patients or clients, in groups or through social systems. Occupational therapy also includes the establishment and modification of peer review.

(2) “Occupational therapist” means a person licensed to practice occupational therapy as defined in this chapter and whose license is in good standing.

(3) “Occupational therapy assistant” means a person licensed to assist in the practice of occupational therapy, under the supervision of or with the consultation of a licensed occupational therapist, and whose license is in good standing.

(4) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Public Health, or the commissioner’s designee.

(5) “Department” means the Department of Public Health.

(6) “Supervision” means the overseeing of or participation in the work of an occupational therapy assistant by a licensed occupational therapist, including, but not limited to: (A) Continuous availability of direct communication between the occupational therapy assistant and the licensed occupational therapist; (B) availability of the licensed occupational therapist on a regularly scheduled basis to (i) review the practice of the occupational therapy assistant, and (ii) support the occupational therapy assistant in the performance of the occupational therapy assistant’s services; and (C) a predetermined plan for emergency situations, including the designation of an alternate licensed occupational therapist to oversee or participate in the work of the occupational therapy assistant in the absence of the regular licensed occupational therapist.

(P.A. 78-253, S. 1, 11; P.A. 82-472, S. 78, 183; P.A. 89-115, S. 3, 7; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 96-57, S. 2, 3; P.A. 17-146, S. 8; 17-202, S. 75.)

History: P.A. 82-472 replaced alphabetic Subdiv. indicators with numeric indicators revising Subpara. indicators accordingly; P.A. 89-115 removed the definition of “association”, renumbering Subdivs. as necessary; P.A. 93-381 replaced department and commissioner of health services with department and commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-57 added the establishment and modification of peer review to the definition of “occupational therapy”, effective May 7, 1996; P.A. 17-146 amended Subdiv. (1) by replacing “deficits” with “disabilities”, and replacing “the handicapped” with “persons with disabilities” in Subpara. (B), amended Subdiv. (4) by adding reference to the commissioner’s designee, added Subdiv. (6) defining “supervision”, and made technical changes; P.A. 17-202 amended Subdiv. (1) by replacing “deficits” with “disabilities”, and replacing “the handicapped” with “persons with disabilities”, amended Subdiv. (4) by adding “or the commissioner’s designee”, added Subdiv. (6) defining “supervision” and made technical changes.