2013 Maryland Code
HEALTH OCCUPATIONS
§ 10-101 - Definitions

§10-101.

(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.

(b) “ACOTE” means the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education.

(c) “Aide” means any individual who:

(1) Is not licensed by the Board to perform occupational therapy or limited occupational therapy; and

(2) Provides supportive services to the occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant under direct supervision.

(d) “Board” means the State Board of Occupational Therapy Practice.

(e) “Direct supervision” means supervision provided on a face-to-face basis by a supervising therapist when delegated client-related tasks are performed.

(f) “License” means, unless the context requires otherwise, a license issued by the Board to practice:

(1) Occupational therapy; or

(2) Limited occupational therapy.

(g) “Licensed occupational therapist” means, unless the context requires otherwise, an occupational therapist who is licensed by the Board to practice occupational therapy.

(h) “Licensed occupational therapy assistant” means, unless the context requires otherwise, an occupational therapy assistant who is licensed by the Board to practice limited occupational therapy.

(i) (1) “Limited occupational therapy” means participation, while under the periodic supervision of a licensed occupational therapist, in:

(i) An initial screening and evaluation that applies the principles and procedures of occupational therapy; and

(ii) A treatment program that applies the principles and procedures of occupational therapy.

(2) “Limited occupational therapy” does not include:

(i) Initiation and interpretation of evaluation data; and

(ii) Initiation of a treatment program before the client has been evaluated and a licensed occupational therapist has rendered a treatment plan.

(j) “NBCOT” means the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy.

(k) “Occupational therapist” means an individual who practices occupational therapy.

(l) “Occupational therapy” means the therapeutic use of purposeful and meaningful goal-directed activities to evaluate, consult, and treat individuals who:

(1) Have a disease or disorder, impairment, activity limitation, or participation restriction that interferes with their ability to function independently in daily life roles; or

(2) Benefit from the prevention of impairments and activity limitations.

(m) “Occupational therapy assistant” means an individual who practices limited occupational therapy.

(n) “Occupational therapy practice” or “limited occupational therapy practice” means to carry out a treatment program that applies the principles and procedures of occupational therapy.

(o) “Occupational therapy principles” include:

(1) The use of therapeutic activities that promote independence in daily life roles;

(2) Remediation or restoration of performance abilities that are limited due to impairment in biological, physiological, psychological, or neurological processes;

(3) In order to enhance performance, the adaption of task, process, or the environment, or the teaching of compensatory techniques;

(4) Methods and techniques for preventing disability that facilitate the development or safe application of performance skills;

(5) Health promotion strategies and practices that enhance performance abilities; and

(6) Education, instruction, and research in the practice of occupational therapy.

(p) (1) “Occupational therapy procedures” include:

(i) Developing, improving, sustaining, or restoring skills in activities of daily living, work, or productive activities, including:

1. Instrumental activities of daily activity; and

2. Play and leisure activities;

(ii) Developing, remediating, or restoring sensorimotor, perceptual, cognitive, or psychological components of performance;

(iii) Designing, fabricating, applying, or training in the use of assistive technology, splinting, or orthotic devices, including training in the use of prosthetic devices;

(iv) Adapting environments and processes, including the application of ergonomic principles to enhance performance and safety in daily life roles;

(v) Applying physical agent modalities as adjuncts to or in preparation for purposeful activity with appropriate training, as specified by the Board in regulations;

(vi) Promoting safe, functional mobility in daily life tasks;

(vii) Providing intervention in collaboration with the client, the client’s family, the client’s caregiver, or others;

(viii) Educating the client, the client’s family, the client’s caregiver, or others in carrying out appropriate nonskilled interventions; and

(ix) Consulting with groups, programs, organizations, and communities to provide population-based services.

(2) “Occupational therapy procedures” do not include the adjustment or manipulation of any of the osseous structures of the body or spine.

(q) “On-site supervision” means supervision in which a supervisor is immediately available on a face-to-face basis when client procedures are performed or as otherwise necessary.

(r) (1) “Periodic supervision” means supervision by a licensed occupational therapist on a face-to-face basis, occurring the earlier of at least:

(i) Once every 10 therapy visits; or

(ii) Once every 30 calendar days.

(2) “Periodic supervision” includes:

(i) Chart review; and

(ii) Meetings to discuss client treatment plans, client response, or observation of treatment.

(s) “Supervision” means aid, direction, and instruction provided by an occupational therapist to adequately ensure the safety and welfare of clients during the course of occupational therapy.

(t) “Temporary license” means a license issued by the Board under and as limited by § 10-313 of this title to practice:

(1) Occupational therapy; or

(2) Limited occupational therapy.