2006 Minnesota Statutes

148.6440 PHYSICAL AGENT MODALITIES.
    Subdivision 1. General considerations. (a) Occupational therapists who use superficial
physical agent modalities must comply with the requirements in subdivision 3. Occupational
therapists who use electrotherapy must comply with the requirements in subdivision 4.
Occupational therapists who use ultrasound devices must comply with the requirements in
subdivision 5. Occupational therapy assistants who use physical agent modalities must comply
with subdivision 6.
(b) Use of superficial physical agent modalities, electrical stimulation devices, and ultrasound
devices must be on the order of a physician.
(c) The commissioner shall maintain a roster of persons licensed under sections 148.6401 to
148.6450 who use physical agent modalities. Prior to using a physical agent modality, licensees
must inform the commissioner of the physical agent modality they will use. Persons who use
physical agent modalities must indicate on their initial and renewal applications the physical
agent modalities that they use.
(d) Licensees are responsible for informing the commissioner of any changes in the
information required in this section within 30 days of any change.
    Subd. 2. Written documentation required. Prior to use of physical agent modalities, an
occupational therapist must provide to the commissioner documentation verifying that the
occupational therapist has met the educational and clinical requirements described in subdivisions
3 to 5, depending on the modality or modalities used. Both theoretical training and clinical
application objectives must be met for each modality used. Documentation must include the name
and address of the individual or organization sponsoring the activity; the name and address of
the facility at which the activity was presented; and a copy of the course, workshop, or seminar
description, including learning objectives and standards for meeting the objectives. In the case
of clinical application objectives, teaching methods must be documented, including actual
supervised practice. Documentation must include a transcript or certificate showing successful
completion of the coursework. Practitioners are prohibited from using physical agent modalities
independently until granted approval as provided in subdivision 7.
    Subd. 3. Educational and clinical requirements for use of superficial physical agent
modalities. (a) An occupational therapist may use superficial physical agent modalities if the
occupational therapist has received theoretical training and clinical application training in the
use of superficial physical agent modalities.
(b) Theoretical training in the use of superficial physical agent modalities must:
(1) explain the rationale and clinical indications for use of superficial physical agent
modalities;
(2) explain the physical properties and principles of the superficial physical agent modalities;
(3) describe the types of heat and cold transference;
(4) explain the factors affecting tissue response to superficial heat and cold;
(5) describe the biophysical effects of superficial physical agent modalities in normal and
abnormal tissue;
(6) describe the thermal conductivity of tissue, matter, and air;
(7) explain the advantages and disadvantages of superficial physical agent modalities; and
(8) explain the precautions and contraindications of superficial physical agent modalities.
(c) Clinical application training in the use of superficial physical agent modalities must
include activities requiring the practitioner to:
(1) formulate and justify a plan for the use of superficial physical agents for treatment
appropriate to its use and simulate the treatment;
(2) evaluate biophysical effects of the superficial physical agents;
(3) identify when modifications to the treatment plan for use of superficial physical agents
are needed and propose the modification plan;
(4) safely and appropriately administer superficial physical agents under the supervision of a
course instructor or clinical trainer;
(5) document parameters of treatment, patient response, and recommendations for
progression of treatment for the superficial physical agents; and
(6) demonstrate the ability to work competently with superficial physical agents as
determined by a course instructor or clinical trainer.
    Subd. 4. Educational and clinical requirements for use of electrotherapy. (a) An
occupational therapist may use electrotherapy if the occupational therapist has received theoretical
training and clinical application training in the use of electrotherapy.
(b) Theoretical training in the use of electrotherapy must:
(1) explain the rationale and clinical indications of electrotherapy, including pain control,
muscle dysfunction, and tissue healing;
(2) demonstrate comprehension and understanding of electrotherapeutic terminology and
biophysical principles, including current, voltage, amplitude, and resistance;
(3) describe the types of current used for electrical stimulation, including the description,
modulations, and clinical relevance;
(4) describe the time-dependent parameters of pulsed and alternating currents, including
pulse and phase durations and intervals;
(5) describe the amplitude-dependent characteristics of pulsed and alternating currents;
(6) describe neurophysiology and the properties of excitable tissue;
(7) describe nerve and muscle response from externally applied electrical stimulation,
including tissue healing;
(8) describe the electrotherapeutic effects and the response of nerve, denervated and
innervated muscle, and other soft tissue; and
(9) explain the precautions and contraindications of electrotherapy, including considerations
regarding pathology of nerve and muscle tissue.
(c) Clinical application training in the use of electrotherapy must include activities requiring
the practitioner to:
(1) formulate and justify a plan for the use of electrical stimulation devices for treatment
appropriate to its use and simulate the treatment;
(2) evaluate biophysical treatment effects of the electrical stimulation;
(3) identify when modifications to the treatment plan using electrical stimulation are needed
and propose the modification plan;
(4) safely and appropriately administer electrical stimulation under supervision of a course
instructor or clinical trainer;
(5) document the parameters of treatment, case example (patient) response, and
recommendations for progression of treatment for electrical stimulation; and
(6) demonstrate the ability to work competently with electrical stimulation as determined by
a course instructor or clinical trainer.
    Subd. 5. Educational and clinical requirements for use of ultrasound. (a) An occupational
therapist may use an ultrasound device if the occupational therapist has received theoretical
training and clinical application training in the use of ultrasound.
(b) The theoretical training in the use of ultrasound must:
(1) explain the rationale and clinical indications for the use of ultrasound, including
anticipated physiological responses of the treated area;
(2) describe the biophysical thermal and nonthermal effects of ultrasound on normal and
abnormal tissue;
(3) explain the physical principles of ultrasound, including wavelength, frequency,
attenuation, velocity, and intensity;
(4) explain the mechanism and generation of ultrasound and energy transmission through
physical matter; and
(5) explain the precautions and contraindications regarding use of ultrasound devices.
(c) The clinical application training in the use of ultrasound must include activities requiring
the practitioner to:
(1) formulate and justify a plan for the use of ultrasound for treatment appropriate to its use
and stimulate the treatment;
(2) evaluate biophysical effects of ultrasound;
(3) identify when modifications to the treatment plan for use of ultrasound are needed and
propose the modification plan;
(4) safely and appropriately administer ultrasound under supervision of a course instructor or
clinical trainer;
(5) document parameters of treatment, patient response, and recommendations for
progression of treatment for ultrasound; and
(6) demonstrate the ability to work competently with ultrasound as determined by a course
instructor or clinical trainer.
    Subd. 6. Occupational therapy assistant use of physical agent modalities. An occupational
therapy assistant may set up and implement treatment using physical agent modalities if the
assistant meets the requirements of this section, has demonstrated service competency for the
particular modality used, and works under the direct supervision of an occupational therapist.
An occupational therapy assistant who uses superficial physical agent modalities must meet the
requirements of subdivision 3. An occupational therapy assistant who uses electrotherapy must
meet the requirements of subdivision 4. An occupational therapy assistant who uses ultrasound
must meet the requirements of subdivision 5. An occupational therapist may not delegate
evaluation, reevaluation, treatment planning, and treatment goals for physical agent modalities to
an occupational therapy assistant.
    Subd. 7. Approval. (a) The advisory council shall appoint a committee to review
documentation under subdivisions 2 to 6 to determine if established educational and clinical
requirements are met. If, after review of course documentation, the committee verifies that
a specific course meets the theoretical and clinical requirements in subdivisions 2 to 6,
the commissioner may approve practitioner applications that include the required course
documentation evidencing completion of the same course.
(b) Occupational therapists shall be advised of the status of their request for approval within
30 days. Occupational therapists must provide any additional information requested by the
committee that is necessary to make a determination regarding approval or denial.
(c) A determination regarding a request for approval of training under this subdivision shall
be made in writing to the occupational therapist. If denied, the reason for denial shall be provided.
(d) A licensee who was approved by the commissioner as a level two provider prior to
July 1, 1999, shall remain on the roster maintained by the commissioner in accordance with
subdivision 1, paragraph (c).
(e) To remain on the roster maintained by the commissioner, a licensee who was approved by
the commissioner as a level one provider prior to July 1, 1999, must submit to the commissioner
documentation of training and experience gained using physical agent modalities since the
licensee's approval as a level one provider. The committee appointed under paragraph (a) shall
review the documentation and make a recommendation to the commissioner regarding approval.
(f) An occupational therapist who received training in the use of physical agent modalities
prior to July 1, 1999, but who has not been placed on the roster of approved providers may
submit to the commissioner documentation of training and experience gained using physical
agent modalities. The committee appointed under paragraph (a) shall review documentation and
make a recommendation to the commissioner regarding approval.
History: 2000 c 361 s 19; 2006 c 267 art 2 s 10