Sec. 10.46.06.04. Standards of Competence for Electrical Modalities

A. An occupational therapist, or occupational therapy assistant under the periodic supervision of an occupational therapist, who wishes to use occupational therapy procedures involving electrical physical agent modalities shall maintain, for the duration of the licensee's professional career, verification of didactic education and clinical requirements.

B. Didactic Education. For each electrical physical agent modality, didactic education shall include:

(1) Principles of physics related to specific properties of light, water, temperature, sound, and electricity;

(2) Physiological, neurophysiological, and electrophysiological changes which occur as a result of the application of the selected modality;

(3) The response of normal and abnormal tissue to the application of the modality;

(4) Indications and contraindications related to the selection and application of the modality;

(5) The guidelines for treatment or administration of the modality within the philosophical framework of occupational therapy;

(6) The guidelines for educating the patient, including instructing the patient about the process and possible outcomes of treatment, including its risks and benefits;

(7) Safety rules and precautions related to the selected modality;

(8) Methods of documenting the effectiveness of immediate and long-term effects of treatment;

(9) Characteristics of equipment including safe operation, adjustment, and care of the equipment; and

(10) Application and storage of patient specific pharmacological agents.

C. Clinical Requirements. Before applying physical agent modalities to a client under this chapter, a licensee shall:

(1) Complete 15 contact hours of continuing education relative to electrical physical agent modalities which includes a minimum of:

(a) 5 contact hours specific to ultrasound; and

(b) 5 contact hours specific to electromuscular stimulation; and

(2) After completing all 15 contact hours of education, a licensee shall apply a minimum of five client treatments within the context of a therapeutic treatment program for each specific modality under the direct clinical education of an educator as defined in this chapter.