Chapter 671-6 CERTIFICATION FOR USE OF PHYSICAL AGENT MODALITIES
Physical agent modalities means treatment techniques as
specified in Code Section
43-28-3- (9).
| (1) |
Effective June
18, 2014, Any occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistant who
wishes to utilize O.T. techniques involving physical agent modalities, must
document, successful completion of a minimum of 90 contact hours of instruction
or training approved by the Board which covers:
| (a) |
Principles of physics related to specific
properties of light, water, temperature, sound, or electricity, as indicated by
selected modality; |
| (b) |
Physiological, Neurophysiological, and Electrophysiological, changes, as
indicated, which occur as a result of the application of selected
modality; |
| (c) |
The response of
normal and abnormal tissue to the application of the modality; |
| (d) |
Indications and contra indications
related to the selection and application of the modality; |
| (e) |
The guide lines for treatment or
administration of the modality within the philosophical framework of
occupational therapy; |
| (f) |
The guide
lines for educating the patient including instructing the patient to the
process and possible outcomes of treatment, including risks and
benefits; |
| (g) |
Safety rules and
precautions related to the selected modality; |
| (h) |
Methods of documenting the effectiveness
of immediate and long term effects of treatment; and |
| (i) |
Characteristics of the equipment
including safe operation, adjustment, and care of the equipment. |
|
| (2) |
No less than 36 contact hours
must be directly related to the specific theories and practical application of
physical agent modalities. |
| (3) |
Acceptable instruction or training shall include any activity relevant to the
practice of physical agent modalities in occupational therapy and may include
formal academic education, conferences, workshops, seminars, web based
instructions, and in-service education. |
| (4) |
Each occupational therapist and
occupational therapy assistant is responsible for submitting documentation of
training. Documentation shall include:
| (a) |
Identification of the specific course or training where the therapist learned
content related to each subject area (a-i); |
| (b) |
Proof of 90 hours of instruction or
training. This may be reported by:
| 1. |
A
statement of attendance or a copy of the certificate of completion which shows
title of program, hours of program, date program was taught, signature of
designated program official, and a brochure or program outline; or |
| 2. |
An official grade report/transcript and
course outline to verify academic education. |
|
| (c) |
Additional documentation may be requested
by the Board, if deemed necessary. |
|
| (1) |
Any licensed
occupational therapist or licensed occupational therapy assistant who is not
certified by the Board to use physical agent modalities and who uses the
modalities for any purpose in the practice of occupational therapy is in
violation of O.C.G.A. Sec. 43-28-8.1 and upon substantiation thereof may have
the license disciplined. |
| (2) |
Any
licensed occupational therapist or licensed occupational therapy assistant who
is certified by the board to use physical agent modalities and who uses such
modalities for purposes other than within the philosophical framework of
occupational therapy is in violation of O.C.G.A. Sec. 43-28-8.1 and upon
substantiation thereof may have the license disciplined. |
| (3) |
Any licensed occupational therapy
assistant certified to use physical agent modalities under this rule may only
use those modalities when supervised by a licensed occupational therapist
certified to use physical agent modalities under this rule. Any OTA who uses
physical agent modalities without the personal and direct involvement of the
licensed occupational therapist certified to use those modalities is in
violation of O.C.G.A. Sec. 43-28-8.1 and upon substantiation thereof may have
the license disciplined. |
