South Carolina Code 40-45-290. Physical therapy aides; permissible duties; restrictions
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(A) A physical therapy aide may provide departmental support to the on-site physical therapist and physical therapist assistant in the following areas subject to guidelines established in regulations:
(1) transporting patients;
Terms Used In South Carolina Code 40-45-290
- Physical therapist: means a person who has met all the conditions of this chapter and is licensed in this State to practice physical therapy. See South Carolina Code 40-45-20
- Physical therapist assistant: means a person who is licensed by the board to assist a physical therapist in the practice of physical therapy and whose activities are supervised and directed by a physical therapist whose license is in good standing. See South Carolina Code 40-45-20
- physical therapy: as used in this chapter , and nothing in this chapter shall be construed to authorize a physical therapist to prescribe medications or order laboratory or other medical tests. See South Carolina Code 40-45-20
- Physical therapy aide: means a nonlicensed person who helps the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant but whose duties do not require an understanding of physical therapy nor formal training in anatomical, biological, or physical sciences. See South Carolina Code 40-45-20
(2) preparing, cleaning, and maintaining the treatment area and equipment;
(3) preparing patients for treatment;
(4) attending to the personal needs of patients during treatment sessions;
(5) clerical and housekeeping activities.
(B) A physical therapy aide may not perform:
(1) an activity which requires licensure under this chapter;
(2) an activity which requires the exercise of the professional judgment of a physical therapist;
(3) the interpretation of referrals, screenings, assessments, evaluations, or reassessments;
(4) the development or modification of treatment plans or discharge plans.