90C-22. Definitions.

In this Chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions shall apply:

(1) Board. - The North Carolina Board of Recreational Therapy Licensure.

(2) Licensed recreational therapist. - A person who holds a license pursuant to this Chapter as a recreational therapist. A person licensed as a "Recreational Therapist" under this Chapter may practice in clinical, residential, educational, and community settings and may:

a. Conduct an individualized patient or client assessment for the purpose of collecting systematic, comprehensive, and accurate data necessary to determine a course of action and subsequent individualized treatment plan.

b. Plan and develop the individualized treatment plan that identifies a patient or client's goals, objectives, and treatment intervention strategies.

c. Implement the individualized treatment plan that is consistent with the overall patient or client treatment program.

d. Systematically evaluate and compare the patient or client's response to the individualized treatment plan and suggest modifications as appropriate.

e. Develop a discharge plan in collaboration with the patient or client, his or her family, and other treatment team members.

f. Serve as a resource for patient or client recreation opportunities to promote or improve his or her general health and well-being.

g. Deliver services in accordance with the professional standards of practice and codes of ethics promulgated by national or State professional organizations.

h. Manage delivery of services in accordance with a written plan of operation based upon standards advanced by appropriate membership, regulatory, and credentialing agencies.

i. Provide professional and preprofessional education and training of recreational therapists or recreational therapy assistants.

j. Conduct research in the field of recreational therapy or therapeutic recreation.

(3) Licensed recreational therapy assistant. - A person who holds a license pursuant to this Chapter as a recreational therapy assistant to act under the supervision of a licensed recreational therapist as defined by rule. A person licensed as a "Recreational Therapy Assistant" under this Chapter may assist in the practice of recreational therapy in clinical, residential, and community settings under the supervision of a licensed recreational therapist and in accordance with a recreational therapy assistant's training, education, and scope of practice, as defined by rule.

(4) Person. - Any individual, corporation, partnership, association, unit of government, or other legal entity.

(5) Recreational therapy. - A treatment service designed to restore, remediate, or rehabilitate a patient or client's level of functioning and independence in life activities, as well as reduce or eliminate the activity limitations and restrictions to participation in life situations caused by an illness or disabling condition.

(6) Recreational therapy aide. - Any nonlicensed person who aids in the provision of recreational therapy services under the provisions of this Chapter, and who acts under the direction and on-site supervision of a licensed recreational therapist or licensed recreational therapy assistant. A recreational therapy aide may perform recreational therapy related duties and functions which are assigned and are commensurate with an aide's training and competency. An aide's work shall not include responding to a physician's orders; designing, conducting, or interpreting individualized recreational therapy patient assessment; determining or modifying recreational therapy treatment plans or interventions; or any independent practice or performance of recreational therapy services.

(7) Scope of recreational therapy. - The practice of recreational therapy includes all direct patient or client services of assessment, planning, design, implementation, evaluation, and documentation of specific interventions, management, consultation, research, and education for either individuals or groups that require specific therapeutic recreation or recreational therapy intervention representing the process and knowledge base delineated in the most recent National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) Job Analysis Study and professional standards of practice. Scope is inclusive of professional and preprofessional education and training in recreational therapy, therapeutic recreation, and related research.

(8) Therapeutic recreation. - The provision of treatment services and the provision of recreation services to persons with illnesses or disabling conditions. The primary purposes of treatment services, which are often referred to as recreational therapy, are to restore, remediate, or rehabilitate in order to improve functioning and independence as well as reduce or eliminate the effects of illness or disability. The primary purposes of recreation services are to provide recreation resources and opportunities in order to improve health and well-being. Therapeutic recreation is provided by professionals who are trained and certified, registered, or licensed to provided therapeutic recreation.