CRITERIA FOR STANDARDS OF PRACTICE FOR PHYSICAL THERAPY BOD
S03-06-16-38 (Program 32) [Amended HOD 06-99-18-22; HOD
06-96-16-31; HOD 06-91-21-25; HOD 06-85-30-56; Initial HOD 06-80-04-04;
HOD 06-80-03-03] [Standard]
[Amended BOD S03-05-14-38; BOD 03-04-19-44; BOD 03-00-22-53; BOD
11-99-20-53; BOD 03-99-15-45; BOD 02-97-03-05; BOD 03-95-22-58; BOD
11-94-30-100; BOD 03-93-21-58; BOD 03-91-31-79; BOD 03-89-28-88; Initial
BOD 11-85-13-56] [Standard]
The Standards of Practice for Physical Therapy are
promulgated by APTA's House of Delegates; Criteria for the Standards are
promulgated by APTA's Board of Directors. Criteria are italicized
beneath the Standards to which they apply.
Preamble
The physical therapy profession's commitment to society is to promote
optimal health and function in individuals by pursuing excellence in
practice. The American Physical Therapy Association attests to this
commitment by adopting and promoting the following Standards of Practice
for Physical Therapy. These Standards are the profession's statement of
conditions and performances that are essential for provision of high
quality professional service to society, and provide a foundation for
assessment of physical therapist practice.
I. Ethical/Legal Considerations
A. Ethical Considerations
The physical therapist practices according to the Code of
Ethics of the American Physical Therapy Association.
The physical therapist assistant complies with the Standards of
Ethical Conduct for the Physical Therapist Assistant of the American
Physical Therapy Association.
B. Legal Considerations
The physical therapist complies with all the legal requirements of
jurisdictions regulating the practice of physical therapy.
The physical therapist assistant complies with all the legal
requirements of jurisdictions regulating the work of the assistant.
II. Administration of the Physical Therapy Service
A. Statement of Mission, Purposes, and Goals
The physical therapy service has a statement of mission, purposes,
and goals that reflects the needs and interests of the patients/clients
served, the physical therapy personnel affiliated with the service, and
the community.
The statement of mission, purposes, and goals:
- Defines the scope and limitations of the physical therapy
service.
- Identifies the goals and objectives of the service.
- Is reviewed annually.
B. Organizational Plan
The physical therapy service has a written organizational plan.
The organizational plan:
- Describes relationships among components within the physical
therapy service and, where the service is part of a larger organization,
between the service and the other components of that
organization.
- Ensures that the service is directed by a physical
therapist.
- Defines supervisory structures within the service.
- Reflects current personnel functions.
C. Policies and Procedures
The physical therapy service has written policies and procedures that
reflect the operation, mission, purposes, and goals of the service, and
are consistent with the Association's positions, standards, guidelines,
policies, procedures, and Code of Ethics.
The written policies and procedures:
- Are reviewed regularly and revised as necessary.
- Meet the requirements of federal and state law and external
agencies.
- Apply to, but are not limited to:
- Care of patients/clients, including guidelines
- Clinical education
- Clinical research
- Collaboration
- Collection of patient date
- Competency assessment
- Criteria for access to care
- Criteria for initiation and continuation of care
- Criteria for referral to other appropriate health care
providers
- Criteria for termination of care
- Documentation
- Environmental safety
- Equipment maintenance
- Fiscal management
- Improvement of quality of care and performance of
services
- Infection control
- Job/position descriptions
- Medical emergencies
- Personnel-related policies
- Rights of patients/clients
- Staff orientation
D. Administration
A physical therapist is responsible for the direction of the physical
therapy service.
The physical therapist responsible for the direction of the
physical therapy service:
- Ensures compliance with local, state, and federal
requirements.
- Ensures compliance with current APTA documents, including
Standards of Practice for Physical Therapy and the Criteria, Guide to
Physical Therapist Practice, Code of Ethics, Guide for Professional
Conduct, Standards of Ethical Conduct for the Physical Therapist
Assistant, and Guide for Conduct of the Physical Therapist
Assistant.
- Ensures that services are consistent with the mission, purposes,
and goals of the physical therapy service.
- Ensures that services are provided in accordance with established
policies and procedures.
- Ensures that the process for assignment and reassignment of
physical therapist staff supports individual physical therapist
responsibility to their patients and meets the needs of the
patients/clients.
- Reviews and updates policies and procedures.
- Provides for training of physical therapy support personnel that
ensures continued competence for their job description.
- Provides for continuous in-service training on safety issues and
for periodic safety inspection of equipment by qualified
individuals.
E. Fiscal Management
The director of the physical therapy service, in consultation with
physical therapy staff and appropriate administrative personnel
participates in planning for, and allocation of, resources. Fiscal
planning and management of the service is based on sound accounting
principles.
The fiscal management plan:
- Includes a budget that provides for optimal use of
resources.
- Ensures accurate recording and reporting of financial
information.
- Ensures compliance with legal requirements.
- Allows for cost-effective utilization of resources.
- Uses a fee schedule that is consistent with the cost of physical
therapy services and that is within customary norms of fairness and
reasonableness.
- Considers option of providing pro bono services.
F. Improvement of Quality of Care and Performance
The physical therapy service has a written plan for continuous
improvement of quality of care and performance of services.
The improvement plan:
- Provides evidence of ongoing review and evaluation of the
physical therapy service.
- Provides a mechanism for documenting improvement in quality of
care and performance.
- Is consistent with requirements of external agencies, as
applicable.
G. Staffing
The physical therapy personnel affiliated with the physical therapy
service have demonstrated competence and are sufficient to achieve the
mission, purposes, and goals of the service.
The physical therapy service:
- Meets all legal requirements regarding licensure and
certification of appropriate personnel.
- Ensures that the level of expertise within the service is
appropriate to the needs of the patients/clients served.
- Provides appropriate professional and support personnel to meet
the needs of the patient/client population.
H. Staff Development
The physical therapy service has a written plan that provides for
appropriate and ongoing staff development.
The staff development plan:
- Includes self-assessment, individual goal setting, and
organizational needs in directing continuing education and learning
activities.
- Includes strategies for lifelong learning and professional and
career development.
- Includes mechanisms to foster mentorship activities.
- Includes knowledge of clinical research methods and
analysis.
I. Physical Setting
The physical setting is designed to provide a safe and accessible
environment that facilitates fulfillment of the mission, purposes, and
goals of the physical therapy service. The equipment is safe and
sufficient to achieve the purposes and goals of physical therapy.
The physical setting:
- Meets all applicable legal requirements for health and
safety.
- Meets space needs appropriate for the number and type of
patients/clients served.
- The equipment:
- Meets all applicable legal requirements for health and
safety.
- Is inspected routinely.
J. Collaboration
The physical therapy service collaborates with all disciplines as
appropriate.
The collaboration when appropriate:
- Uses a team approach to the care of patients/clients.
- Provides instruction of patients/clients and families.
- Ensures professional development and continuing
education.
Relationship to Vision 2020: Professionalism
(Practice Department, ext. 3176)
Criteria
For Standards Of Practice For Physical Therapy Part 2
Criteria
For Standards Of Practice For Physical Therapy Part 3
[Last updated: 12/19/08 | Contact executivedept@apta.org]
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