2012 Delaware Code
Title 24 - Professions and Occupations
CHAPTER 26. PHYSICAL THERAPY AND ATHLETIC TRAINING
§ 2612. Practice, referral, and consultation.

(a) A licensed physical therapist may enter a case for the purpose of consultation, evaluation or treatment of an individual as it relates to the individual's need for physical therapy services, with or without a referral by a licensed medical or osteopathic physician; provided, however, that a physical therapist shall refer the individual to another health practitioner if symptoms are present for which treatment is outside the scope of the physical therapist's knowledge. A physical therapist may treat an individual without a referral up to 30 days after which time a physician must be consulted. Physical therapy treatment of any individual shall be administered only by a licensed physical therapist. This chapter shall not prohibit physicians licensed to practice medicine and surgery, chiropractic physicians, podiatrists, dentists and nurses licensed under this title from performing any physical or therapeutic modalities within the scope of their respective practices. Treatment by a physical therapist may also occur based on a referral from, or in consultation with, any licensed health practitioner, who has been granted prescriptive authority for a condition within the scope of their respective practices.

(b) Any person licensed under this chapter as an athletic trainer shall not treat any person by athletic training or otherwise, except after a physician's referral or an evaluation by the supervising physical therapist, first aid excluded. Any person licensed under this chapter as an athletic trainer will require a referral for treatment and/or rehabilitation of injuries other than treatment of minor sprains, strains and contusions, first aid excluded. Treatment by an athletic trainer may occur based on a referral from, or in consultation with, any licensed health practitioner who has been granted prescriptive authority for a condition within the scope of their respective practices. An athletic trainer shall refer an individual to another licensed health practitioner if symptoms are present for which athletic training is contra-indicated or which are indicative of conditions for which treatment is outside the scope of the athletic trainer's knowledge.

64 Del. Laws, c. 192, § 1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 97, § 17; 69 Del. Laws, c. 164, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 73 Del. Laws, c. 125, §§ 9, 10; 74 Del. Laws, c. 381, § 6.;