2013 Wyoming Statutes
TITLE 33 - PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS
CHAPTER 25 - PHYSICAL THERAPISTS
33-25-111. Discipline; denial or suspension of license or certificate; grounds.

33-25-111. Discipline; denial or suspension of license or certificate; grounds.

(a) The board may revoke, suspend, restrict, condition, reprimand, refuse to issue or refuse to renew the license or certification of any individual who:

(i) Practices physical therapy or acts as a physical therapist assistant in violation of the provisions of this act;

(ii) Has practiced or attempts to practice fraud or deceit in:

(A) Procuring or attempting to procure a license or certificate;

(B) Filing or reporting any health care information, including but not limited to client documentation, agency records or other essential health documents;

(C) Signing any report or record as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant;

(D) Representing authority to practice physical therapy;

(E) Submitting any information or record to the board.

(iii) Commits negligence or incompetence in the practice of physical therapy or engages in any act inconsistent with uniform and reasonable standards of physical therapy practice as defined by board rules and regulations, whether with or without injury to a patient;

(iv) Has been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor that relates adversely to the practice of physical therapy or the ability to practice physical therapy, in the courts of this state, another jurisdiction or another country. As used in this paragraph, conviction includes a finding or verdict of guilt, an admission of guilt, a plea of nolo contendere or a plea agreement where the defendant has pled guilty yet not admitted to all the facts that comprise the crime;

(v) Unlawfully uses or possesses controlled substances, or excessively indulges in the use of alcoholic beverages;

(vi) Has treated or has undertaken to treat human ailments otherwise than by physical therapy as defined in this act;

(vii) Has had his license to practice physical therapy or certification to act as a physical therapist assistant refused, revoked or suspended or has had other disciplinary action taken in another jurisdiction or country;

(viii) Has negligently failed to refer a patient whose condition is beyond the training or ability of the physical therapist to another professional qualified to diagnose or care for the condition;

(ix) Has engaged in any conduct or practice contrary to recognized standards of ethics of the physical therapy profession where the conduct or practice might constitute a danger to the health, safety or welfare of the patient or the public;

(x) Engages directly or indirectly in the division, transferring, assigning, rebating, or refunding of fees received for professional services or profits by means of a credit or other valuable consideration as an unearned commission, discount or gratuity with any person who has referred a patient, or with any relative or business associate of the referring person. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as prohibiting the members of any regularly and properly organized business entity comprised of or including physical therapists from making any division of their total fees among themselves as they determine by contract necessary;

(xi) Has been judged mentally incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction;

(xii) Fails to refer a patient or client or post information as required by W.S. 33-25-102(e);

(xiii) Has knowingly engaged in an act which the license or certificate holder knew was beyond the scope of the individual's license or certificate or performed acts without sufficient education, knowledge or ability to competently apply physical therapy principles and skills;

(xiv) Is unfit or incompetent to practice physical therapy by reason of negligence, habits or other causes including but not limited to inability to exercise reasonable skill and care for patients by reasons of physical disability, mental disability or the use of drugs, narcotics, alcohol, chemicals or other substance that affects mental faculties;

(xv) Knowingly fails to report to the board any violation of this act or rules and regulations of the board;

(xvi) Violates any provisions of this act, rules and regulations of the board or lawfully issued disciplinary order of the board;

(xvii) Has engaged or attempted to engage in conduct that subverts or undermines the integrity of the examination or the examination process including but not limited to utilizing recalled or memorized examination questions, failing to comply with all test center security procedures, communicating with other examinees during the examination or copying or sharing examination questions or portions of questions;

(xviii) Has failed to maintain adequate patient records that include identification of the patient, evaluation of objective findings, a diagnosis, a plan of care, a treatment record and a discharge plan;

(xix) Has failed to properly supervise physical therapist assistants or physical therapy aides;

(xx) Has engaged in sexual misconduct as defined by the rules and regulations of the board;

(xxi) Has interfered with an investigation or disciplinary proceeding by:

(A) Failing to provide the board with requested information or documents, including patient medical records;

(B) Misrepresentation of material facts;

(C) Threatening, harassing or intimidating any patient, witness or board member during the course of an investigation.

(xxii) Has failed to maintain patient confidentiality, including confidentiality of records relating to consultation by telecommunication, without documented patient authorization or as otherwise required by law.

(b) Upon receipt from the department of family services of a certified copy of an order from a court to withhold, suspend or otherwise restrict a license issued by the board, the board shall notify the party named in the court order of the withholding, suspension or restriction of the license in accordance with the terms of the court order. No appeal under the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act shall be allowed for a license withheld, suspended or restricted under this subsection.