Texas Administrative Code › Title 22 - EXAMINING BOARDS › Part 16 - TEXAS BOARD OF PHYSICAL THERAPY EXAMINERS › Chapter 321 - DEFINITIONS › Section 321.1 - Definitions

Current through Reg. 49, No. 28; July 12, 2024
The following words, terms, and phrases, when used in the
				  rules of the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners, shall have the
				  following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
(1) Accredited curriculum in physical therapy
				education--A body of courses in a physical therapy program at a school,
				college, or university which has satisfied the accreditation standards of the
				Commission on Accreditation for Physical Therapy Education.
(2) Accredited physical therapist assistant
				program--A body of courses at a school, college, or university which has
				satisfied the accreditation standards of the Commission on Accreditation for
				Physical Therapy Education.
(3)
				Asymptomatic--Without obvious signs or symptoms of disease.
(4) Board-approved organization or entity--an
				organization or entity to which the board has formally delegated a role in the
				licensure, regulation or enforcement functions of the Physical Therapy Practice
				Act and board rules.
(5)
				Endorsement--The process by which the board issues a license to a person
				currently licensed in another state, the District of Columbia, or territory of
				the United States that maintains professional standards considered by the board
				to be substantially equivalent to those set forth in the Act.
(6) Emergency circumstances--Instances where
				emergency medical care is called for, including first aid.
(7) Emergency medical care--Bona fide
				emergency services provided after the sudden onset of a medical condition
				manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity, including severe
				pain, such that the absence of immediate medical attention could reasonably be
				expected to result in placing the patient's health in serious jeopardy, serious
				impairment to bodily functions, or serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or
				part.
(8) Evaluation--A dynamic
				process in which the physical therapist makes clinical judgments based on data
				gathered during the examination.
(9) Evidence satisfactory to the
				board--Should all official school records be destroyed, sworn affidavits
				satisfactory to the board must be received from three persons having personal
				knowledge of the applicant's physical therapy education. These affidavits will
				not be used when official school records are available.
(10) Examination--A comprehensive screening
				and specific testing process leading to diagnostic classification or, as
				appropriate, to a referral to another practitioner. The examination has three
				components: the patient/client history, the systems review, and tests and
				measures.
(11) Foreign-trained
				applicant--Any applicant whose entry-level professional physical therapy
				education was obtained at a physical therapy program outside the U.S., its
				territories, or the District of Columbia.
(12) Hearing--An adjudicative proceeding
				concerning the issuance, denial, suspension, reprimand, revocation of license,
				after which the legal rights of an applicant or licensee are to be determined
				by the board.
(13) Jurisprudence
				exam--An open-book examination made up of multiple-choice and/or true/false
				questions covering information contained in the Texas Physical Therapy Practice
				Act and Board rules.
(14) On-site
				supervision--The physical therapist or physical therapist assistant is on the
				premises and readily available to respond.
(15) Physical therapy--The evaluation,
				examination, and utilization of exercises, rehabilitative procedures, massage,
				manipulations, and physical agents including, but not limited to, mechanical
				devices, heat, cold, air, light, water, electricity, and sound in the aid of
				diagnosis or treatment. Physical therapists may perform evaluations without
				referrals. Physical therapy practice includes the use of modalities,
				procedures, and tests to make evaluations. Physical therapy practice includes,
				but is not limited to the use of: Electromyographic (EMG) Tests, Nerve
				Conduction Velocity (NCV) Tests, Thermography, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve
				Stimulation (TENS), bed traction, application of topical medication to open
				wounds, sharp debridement, provision of soft goods, inhibitive casting and
				splinting, Phonophoresis, Iontophoresis, and biofeedback services.
(16) Supervision--The delegation and
				continuing direction by a person or persons responsible for the practice of
				physical therapist, physical therapist assistant, or physical therapy aide as
				specified in the Physical Therapy Practice Act.