Section 17-6716. REQUIREMENTS FOR PHYSICAL THERAPISTS TO PERFORM INTRAMUSCULAR MANUAL THERAPY

 

6716.1 Intramuscular manual therapy may be performed by a licensed physical therapist who meets the requirements of this section.

 

6716.2 Intramuscular manual therapy shall be performed directly by the licensed physical therapist and shall not be delegated.

 

6716.3 Intramuscular manual therapy shall be performed in a manner that is consistent with generally accepted standards of practice, including clean needle techniques, and other applicable standards of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

 

6716.4 Intramuscular manual therapy is an advanced procedure that requires specialized training.  A physical therapist shall not perform intramuscular manual therapy in the District of Columbia unless he or she has documented proof of completing:

 

(a)  A Board-approved professional training program on intramuscular manual therapy.  The training program shall require each trainee to demonstrate cognitive and psychomotor knowledge and skills.  The training program shall be attended in person by the physical therapist,  shall not be attended online or through any other means of distance learning, and shall not be a self-study program

 

(b)  A professional training program on intramuscular manual therapy accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).  The training program shall require each trainee to demonstrate cognitive and psychomotor knowledge and skills.  The training program shall be attended in person by the physical therapist,  shall not be attended online or through any other means of distance learning, and shall not be a self-study program; or

 

(c)  Graduate or higher-level coursework in a CAPTE-approved educational program that included intramuscular manual therapy in the curriculum.

 

6716.5 A physical therapist shall only perform intramuscular manual therapy following an

  examination and diagnosis, and for the purpose of treating specific anatomic

  entities selected according to physical signs.

 

6716.6 A physical therapist who performs intramuscular manual therapy shall obtain written informed consent from each patient who will receive intramuscular manual therapy before the physical therapist performs intramuscular manual therapy on the patient.

 

6716.7 The informed consent form shall include, at a minimum, the following:

 

(a)  The patient’s signature;

 

(b)  The risks and benefits of intramuscular manual therapy;

 

(c)  The physical therapist’s level of education and training in intramuscular manual therapy; and

 

(d)  A clearly and conspicuously written statement that the patient is not receiving acupuncture.

 

6716.8 A physical therapist who performs intramuscular manual therapy shall maintain a separate procedure note in the patient’s chart for each intramuscular manual therapy.  The note shall indicate how the patient tolerated the intervention as well as the outcome after the intramuscular manual therapy.

 

6716.9 A physical therapist who performs intramuscular manual therapy shall be required to produce documentation of meeting the requirements of this section immediately upon request by the Board or an agent of the Board.

 

6716.10 Failure by a physical therapist to provide written documentation of meeting the training requirements of this section shall be deemed prima facie evidence that the physical therapist is not competent and not permitted to perform intramuscular manual therapy.

 

authority

The Director of the Department of Health, pursuant to the authority set forth in section 302(14) of the District of Columbia Health Occupations Revision Act of 1985, effective March 25, 1986 (D.C. Law 6-99; D.C. Official Code § 3-1203.02 (14)), and Mayor’s Order 98-140, dated August 20, 1998.

source

Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 58 DCR 817 (January 28, 2011).