2007 Minnesota Statutes

148.706 PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANTS, AIDES, AND STUDENTS.
    Subdivision 1. Supervision. Every physical therapist who uses the services of a physical
therapist assistant or physical therapy aide for the purpose of assisting in the practice of physical
therapy is responsible for functions performed by the assistant or aide while engaged in such
assistance. The physical therapist shall delegate duties to the physical therapist assistant and
assign tasks to the physical therapy aide in accordance with subdivision 2. Physical therapists
who instruct student physical therapists and student physical therapist assistants are responsible
for the functions performed by the students and shall supervise the students as provided under
section 148.65, subdivisions 5 and 6. A licensed physical therapist may supervise no more than
two physical therapist assistants at any time.
    Subd. 2. Delegation of duties. The physical therapist may delegate patient treatment
procedures only to a physical therapist assistant who has sufficient didactic and clinical
preparation. The physical therapist may not delegate the following activities to the physical
therapist assistant or to other supportive personnel: patient evaluation, treatment planning, initial
treatment, change of treatment, and initial or final documentation.
    Subd. 3. Observation of physical therapist assistants. When components of a patient's
treatment are delegated to a physical therapist assistant, a physical therapist must provide on-site
observation of the treatment and documentation of its appropriateness at least every six treatment
sessions. The physical therapist is not required to be on-site, but must be easily available by
telecommunications.
    Subd. 4. Observation of physical therapy aides. The physical therapist must observe
the patient's status before and after the treatment administered by a physical therapy aide. The
physical therapy aide may perform tasks related to preparation of patient and equipment for
treatment, housekeeping, transportation, clerical duties, departmental maintenance, and selected
treatment procedures. The tasks must be performed under the direct supervision of a physical
therapist who is readily available for advice, instruction, or immediate assistance.
History: 1980 c 412 s 11; 1986 c 444; 2005 c 147 art 2 s 6; 2007 c 123 s 20