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D.C. Municipal Regulations (Last Updated: September 13, 2017) |
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Title 17. BUSINESS, OCCUPATIONS, AND PROFESSIONALS |
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Chapter 17-73. OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANTS |
Section 17-7314. SUPERVISION OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANTS
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7314.1An occupational therapy assistant may only practice under the supervision, as specified in this section, of an occupational therapist with an active, unrestricted license in good standing in the District of Columbia. The supervising occupational therapist must be available on an as-needed basis and must be able to be on-site within two (2) hours if a need arises.
7314.2 The supervising occupational therapist shall provide the following:
(a) Direct supervision of an occupational therapy assistant prior to initiating treatment programs and before planned discharges for patients;
(b) An initial and, at a minimum, bimonthly direction to the occupational therapy assistant; and
(c) Documentation to verify details of supervision and direction.
7314.3 The supervising occupational therapist shall only delegate duties and responsibilities for the care of patients to the occupational therapy assistant with consideration given to the following:
(a) The level of skill shown by the occupational therapy assistant;
(b) The occupational therapy assistant’s ability to use identified intervention in a safe and effective manner;
(c) Experience of the occupational therapy assistant and work setting demands; and
(d) The complexity and stability of the patient population to be treated.
7314.4 An occupational therapy assistant may assist in the collection and some of the documentation of patient information pertaining to the evaluation and treatment of a patient provided that the supervising occupational therapist bases such assignment or delegation of duties on the demonstrated competency of the occupational therapy assistant. This demonstrated competency shall be documented and maintained on file by the supervising occupational therapist.
7314.5 An occupational therapy assistant shall not supervise another occupational therapy assistant.
7314.6 An occupational therapy assistant shall immediately inform the supervising occupational therapist and discontinue treatment if a procedure appears to be harmful to the patient.