2023 Montana Code Annotated › Title 37. Professions and Occupations › Chapter 24. Occupational Therapy › Part 1. General Provisions › 37-24-103. Definitions

37-24-103. Definitions.
As used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise, the following definitions apply:
(1) "Board" means the board of occupational therapy practice established by 2-15-1749.
(2) "Certified occupational therapy assistant" means a person licensed to assist in the practice of occupational therapy under this chapter, who works under the general supervision of an occupational therapist in accordance with the provisions of the national board for certification in occupational therapy, inc., and adopted by the board.
(3) "Department" means the department of labor and industry provided for in Title 2, chapter 15, part 17.
(4) "Occupational therapist" means a person licensed to practice occupational therapy under this chapter.
(5) "Occupational therapy" means the therapeutic use of purposeful goal-directed activities and interventions to achieve functional outcomes to maximize the independence and the maintenance of health of an individual who is limited by disease or disorders, impairments, activity limitations, or participation restrictions that interfere with the individual's ability to function independently in daily life roles. The practice encompasses evaluation, assessment, treatment, consultation, remediation, and restoration of performance abilities that are limited due to impairment in biological, physiological, psychological, or neurological processes. Occupational therapy services may be provided individually, in groups, or through social systems. Occupational therapy interventions include but are not limited to:
(a) evaluating, developing, improving, sustaining, or restoring skills in activities of daily living, work or productive activities, including instrumental activities of daily living, and play and leisure activities;
(b) developing perceptual-motor skills and sensory integrative functioning;
(c) developing play skills and leisure capacities and enhancing educational performance skills;
(d) designing, fabricating, or applying orthotic or prosthetic devices, applying and training in the use of assistive technology, and training in the use of orthotic and prosthetic devices;
(e) providing for the development of emotional, motivational, cognitive, psychosocial, or physical components of performance;
(f) providing assessment and evaluation, including the use of skilled observation or the administration and interpretation of standardized or nonstandardized tests and measurements to identify areas for occupational therapy services;
(g) adaptation of task, process, or the environment, as well as teaching of compensatory techniques, in order to enhance performance;
(h) developing feeding and swallowing skills;
(i) enhancing and assessing work performance and work readiness through occupational therapy intervention, including education and instruction, activities to increase and improve general work behavior and skill, job site evaluation, on-the-job training and evaluation, development of work-related activities, and supported employment placement;
(j) providing neuromuscular facilitation and inhibition, including the activation, facilitation, and inhibition of muscle action, both voluntary and involuntary, through the use of appropriate sensory stimulation, including vibration or brushing, to evoke a desired muscular response;
(k) application of physical agent modalities, as defined in this section, as an adjunct to or in preparation for engagement in purposeful goal-directed activity;
(l) promoting health and wellness;
(m) evaluating and providing intervention in collaboration with the client, family, caregiver, or others;
(n) educating the client, family, caregiver, or others in carrying out appropriate nonskilled interventions;
(o) consulting with groups, programs, organizations, or communities to provide population-based services; and
(p) use of prescribed topical medications.
(6) "Occupational therapy aide" means a person who assists in the practice of occupational therapy under the direct supervision of an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant and whose activities require an understanding of occupational therapy but do not require professional or advanced training in the basic anatomical, biological, psychological, and social sciences involved in the practice of occupational therapy.
(7) "Occupational therapy assistant" means a person who is licensed to assist in the practice of occupational therapy under this chapter and who works under the general supervision of an occupational therapist.
(8) "Physical agent modalities" means those modalities that produce a response in soft tissue through the use of light, water, temperature, sound, or electricity. Physical agent modalities are characterized as adjunctive methods used in conjunction with or in immediate preparation for patient involvement in purposeful activity. Superficial physical agent modalities include hot packs, cold packs, ice, fluidotherapy, paraffin, water, and other commercially available superficial heating and cooling devices. Use of superficial physical agent modalities is limited to the shoulder, arm, elbow, forearm, wrist, and hand and is subject to the provisions of 37-24-105. Use of sound and electrical physical agent modality devices is limited to the shoulder, arm, elbow, forearm, wrist, and hand and is subject to the provisions of 37-24-106.
(9) "Purposeful goal-directed activity" means an activity in which the individual is an active, voluntary participant and is directed toward a goal that the individual considers meaningful. Purposeful activities are used to evaluate, facilitate, restore, or maintain individuals' abilities to function within their daily occupations.
(10) "Topical medications" means medications applied locally to the skin and includes only medications listed in 37-24-108(2) for which a prescription is required under state or federal law.
History: En. Sec. 3, Ch. 629, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 35, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 297, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 131, Ch. 483, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 101, L. 2003.