§2272. Definitions

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.   [PL 1997, c. 294, §2 (RPR).]

1.  ACOTE.  "ACOTE" means the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education, a nationally recognized accrediting agency for professional programs in the field of occupational therapy.

[PL 1997, c. 294, §2 (RPR).]

2.  AOTA.  "AOTA" means the American Occupational Therapy Association.

[PL 1997, c. 294, §2 (RPR).]

3.  Board.  "Board" means the Board of Occupational Therapy Practice established under this chapter.

[PL 1997, c. 294, §2 (RPR).]

4.  Certification examination.  "Certification examination" means the certification examination for an occupational therapist or the certification examination for an occupational therapy assistant, both of which are administered by NBCOT.

[PL 2019, c. 287, §2 (AMD).]

5.  Certified occupational therapy assistant.

A. [PL 2019, c. 287, §3 (RP).]

B. [PL 2019, c. 287, §3 (RP).]

C. [PL 2019, c. 287, §3 (RP).]

[PL 2019, c. 287, §3 (RP).]

6.  Commissioner.  "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Professional and Financial Regulation.

[PL 1997, c. 294, §2 (RPR).]

7.  Department.  "Department" means the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation.

[PL 1997, c. 294, §2 (RPR).]

7-A.  Occupational therapy practitioner.

[PL 1997, c. 683, Pt. B, §18 (RAL).]

8.  Developing programs.

[PL 2019, c. 287, §4 (RP).]

8-A.  Director.  "Director" means the Director of the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation within the department.

[PL 2019, c. 287, §5 (NEW).]

9.  Level II fieldwork.  "Level II fieldwork" means the experience required to prepare occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant students to carry out professional responsibilities under appropriate supervision and professional role modeling.

[PL 2019, c. 287, §6 (AMD).]

10.  NBCOT.  "NBCOT" means the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, formerly the AOTCB, or American Occupational Therapy Certification Board.

[PL 1997, c. 294, §2 (NEW).]

11.  Occupational therapist.  "Occupational therapist" means an individual who has passed the certification examination of the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy for an occupational therapist or meets the requirements of section 2279, subsection 6 and who is licensed to practice occupational therapy under this chapter in the State.

[PL 1997, c. 294, §2 (NEW).]

12.  Occupational therapy.  "Occupational therapy" means the assessment, planning and implementation of a program of purposeful activities to develop or maintain adaptive skills necessary to achieve the maximal physical and mental functioning of the individual in the individual's daily pursuits. The practice of "occupational therapy" includes, but is not limited to, assessment and treatment of individuals whose abilities to cope with the tasks of living are threatened or impaired by developmental deficits, the aging process, learning disabilities, poverty and cultural differences, physical injury or disease, psychological and social disabilities or anticipated dysfunction, using:

A. Treatment techniques such as task-oriented activities to prevent or correct physical or emotional deficits or to minimize the disabling effect of these deficits in the life of the individual;   [PL 1997, c. 294, §2 (NEW).]

B. Assessment techniques such as assessment of cognitive and sensory motor abilities, assessment of the development of self-care activities and capacity for independence, assessment of the physical capacity for prevocational and work tasks, assessment of play and leisure performance and appraisal of living areas for the disabled; and   [PL 1997, c. 294, §2 (NEW).]

C. Specific occupational therapy techniques such as daily living skill activities, the fabrication and application of splinting devices, sensory motor activities, the use of specifically designed manual and creative activities, guidance in the selection and use of adaptive equipment, specific exercises to enhance functional performance and treatment techniques for physical capabilities for work activities.   [PL 1997, c. 294, §2 (NEW).]

The techniques may be applied in the treatment of individuals or groups.

[PL 1997, c. 294, §2 (NEW).]

12-A.  Occupational therapy practitioner.

[PL 2019, c. 287, §7 (RP).]

12-B.  Occupational therapy assistant.  "Occupational therapy assistant" means an individual who has passed the certification examination of the NBCOT for an occupational therapy assistant or who was certified as an occupational therapy assistant prior to June 1977 and who is licensed to practice occupational therapy under this chapter in the State under the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist.

[PL 2019, c. 287, §8 (NEW).]

12-C.  Occupational therapy practitioner.  "Occupational therapy practitioner" means an individual who is licensed as an occupational therapist or an occupational therapy assistant.

[PL 2019, c. 287, §8 (NEW).]

13.  Person.  "Person" means any individual, partnership, unincorporated organization or corporation.

[PL 1997, c. 294, §2 (NEW).]

14.  Supervision of OTA.  "Supervision of OTA" means initial directions and periodic inspection of the service delivery and provision of relevant in-service training. The supervising licensed occupational therapist shall determine the frequency and nature of the supervision to be provided based on the clients' required level of care and the OTA's caseload, experience and competency.

[PL 2019, c. 287, §9 (AMD).]

15.  Supervision of temporary licensees.  "Supervision of temporary licensees" includes initial and periodic inspection or written assessments, written treatment plans, patient notes and periodic evaluation of performance. The reviews and evaluations must be conducted in person by a licensed occupational therapist.

[PL 1997, c. 294, §2 (NEW).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1983, c. 746, §2 (NEW). PL 1991, c. 509, §9 (AMD). RR 1993, c. 1, §87 (COR). PL 1997, c. 212, §1 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 294, §2 (RPR). PL 1997, c. 683, §B18 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 386, §I1 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 287, §§18, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 (AMD).