(a) Licensed physical therapist means a person who is currently and validly licensed to practice physical therapy on Guam.

(b) Physical therapy assistant means an individual who assists in the treatment of patients under the direct and indirect supervision of a licensed physical therapist. Assistance rendered must be commensurate with the assistant’s education and training.

(c) Physical therapy technician means an individual who has received on-the-job training from a licensed physical therapist, and who assists in the treatment of patients under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist.

(d) Physical Therapy means the utilization of scientific principles for the evaluation and treatment of any disability, injury or disease by the use of physical, chemical or mechanical means, including, but not limited to, heat, cold, air, light, sound, electricity, water, massage, therapeutic exercise and rehabilitative procedures, with or without assistive devices, for the purpose of preventing, correcting or alleviating dysfunction resulting from such disability, injury or disease; the performance of tests and measurements of neuromuscular function as an aid to the diagnosis or treatment of human condition; performance of treatments on the basis of test findings; supervision of selective forms of treatment by trained supportive personnel; dry needling, but only as provided in this Article and by Board rules and regulations; and the provision of consultative services for health, education and community agencies; provided, however, that physical therapy shall not include the use of Roentgen Rays and radium for diagnostic and therapeutic

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10 Guam Code Ann. HEALTH AND SAFETY
CH. 12 MEDICAL PRACTICES

purposes, the use of electricity for surgical purposes, including cauterization. Physical therapy and physical therapy services are not generic terms; they are the use of any intervention, including physical agent modalities/electrotherapy, that is provided by, or under the direction of, a licensed, physical therapist.

(e) Consultation means the communication regarding a patient’s evaluation and proposed treatment plan with an authorized health care practitioner.

(f) Authorized health care practitioner includes licensed physicians, osteopathic physicians, chiropractors, podiatrists and dentists; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be construed as altering the scope of practice of such practitioners as defined in their respective licensure regulations.

SOURCE: Subsection (d) amended by P.L. 36-138:35 (Dec. 28, 2022).