§ 5-40.1-3. Definitions. (a) "Administrator" means the administrator of the division of professional regulation.

(b) "Board" means the board of occupational therapy practice within the division of professional regulation established pursuant to the provisions of § 5-40.1-4.

(c) "Chapter" refers to chapter 40.1 of this title, entitled "Occupational Therapy."

(d) "Director" means the director of the Rhode Island department of health.

(e) "Division" means the division of professional regulation of the department of health.

(f) "Occupational therapist" means a person licensed to practice occupational therapy under the provisions of this chapter and the rules and regulations authorized by this chapter.

(g)(1) "Occupational therapy" (OT) is the use of purposeful activity or interventions designed to achieve functional outcomes that promote health, prevent injury or disability, and develop, improve, sustain, or restore the highest possible level of independence of any individual who has an injury, illness, cognitive impairment, sensory impairment, psychosocial dysfunction, mental illness, developmental or learning disability, physical disability, or other disorder or condition.

(2) Occupational therapy includes evaluation by means of skilled observation of functional performance or assessment through the administration and interpretation of standardized or nonstandardized tests and measurements.

(h) "Occupational therapy aide" means a person not licensed pursuant to the statutes and rules applicable to the practice of occupational therapy; who works under the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant; who assists in the practice of occupational therapy; and whose activities require an understanding of occupational therapy, but do not require professional or advanced training in the basic anatomical, psychological, and social sciences involved in the practice of occupational therapy.

(i) "Occupational therapy assistant" means a person licensed to practice occupational therapy under the provisions of this chapter and the rules and regulations authorized by this chapter.

(j)(1) "Occupational therapy services" includes, but is not limited to:

(i) Evaluating and providing treatment in consultation with the individual, family, or other appropriate persons;

(ii) Interventions directed toward developing, improving, sustaining, or restoring daily living skills, including self-care skills and activities that involve interactions with others and the environment, work readiness or work performance, play skills or leisure capacities, or educational performance skills;

(iii) Developing, improving, sustaining, or restoring sensory-motor, oral-motor, perceptual, or neuromuscular functioning; or emotional, motivational, cognitive, or psychosocial components of performance; and

(iv) Educating the individual, family, or other appropriate persons in carrying out appropriate interventions.

(2) These services may encompass evaluating need; and designing, developing, adapting, applying, or training in the use of assistive technology devices; designing, fabricating or applying rehabilitative technology, such as selected orthotic devices; training in the functional use of orthotic or prosthetic devices; applying therapeutic activities, modalities, or exercise as an adjunct to or in preparation for functional performance; applying ergonomic principles; adapting environments and processes to enhance daily living skills; or promoting health and wellness.

(k) "Supervision" means that a licensed occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant is at all times responsible for supportive personnel and students.

History of Section. (P.L. 1984, ch. 356, § 1; P.L. 1997, ch. 350, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 310, § 34.)