DC PT Jurisprudence flashcards
DC PT Jurisprudence · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Physical therapy definition
- The evaluation, examination, and treatment of impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities using physical or mechanical means such as exercise, manual therapy, and modalities.
- Non-delegable PT acts
- Evaluation, diagnosis, plan-of-care establishment, and discharge may be performed only by a licensed physical therapist and cannot be delegated to a PTA.
- Prohibited act: unlicensed practice
- Practicing physical therapy or holding out as a PT or PTA without a DC license is a violation, even if licensed elsewhere.
- PTA licensure requirement
- A physical therapist assistant must hold a DC PTA license and practice only under the direction and supervision of a licensed physical therapist.
- Competence-limited scope
- A PT may perform advanced procedures only when education, training, and demonstrated competence support them; title alone does not authorize a procedure.
- CAPTE accreditation
- PT and PTA licensure applicants must graduate from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.
- NPTE requirement
- Applicants must pass the National Physical Therapy Examination appropriate to their tier, PT or PTA, before DC licensure is granted.
- Licensure by endorsement
- Applicants licensed elsewhere must verify an active, unencumbered license and disclose all disciplinary history for Board review.
- Biennial renewal cycle
- DC physical therapy licenses renew every two years; practicing after expiration without renewal constitutes unlicensed practice.
- Board composition
- The DC Board of Physical Therapy includes appointed PT members, a PTA member, and a consumer member who review applications and discipline.
- Supervision definition
- The supervising PT directs the PTA, remains available for consultation, and retains responsibility for the patient's plan of care.
- PTA evaluation prohibition
- A PTA may collect data and implement interventions but may not perform the initial evaluation, interpret findings independently, or modify the plan.
- Aide delegation limits
- Physical therapy aides may perform only non-skilled, non-treatment tasks such as transport and setup and never deliver patient interventions.
- PTA supervision restriction
- A PTA may not supervise other PTAs, students, or unlicensed personnel in place of the supervising physical therapist.
- Re-evaluation responsibility
- The supervising PT performs periodic re-evaluations and adjusts the plan of care based on the PTA's documented patient data.
- Informed consent
- The patient must consent to evaluation and treatment after disclosure of risks and benefits and may refuse or withdraw consent at any time.
- Confidentiality exception
- Patient information may be disclosed without authorization only when law mandates it, such as suspected abuse reporting or court order.
- Dual relationship prohibition
- PTs must avoid relationships or financial arrangements that could impair clinical judgment or exploit the patient's trust.
- Patient rights
- Patients are entitled to privacy, dignity, access to records, participation in care decisions, and freedom from discrimination.
- Record correction method
- Errors are corrected with a single line-through, initials, and date; erasures, whiteout, and obliteration of entries are prohibited.
- Mandatory reporting
- Suspected child abuse, elder abuse, and specified communicable diseases must be reported to the appropriate DC authority.
- Incident report
- Adverse events are documented in a separate risk-management report and are not filed as part of the clinical record.
- Medical necessity documentation
- Progress notes must justify skilled services and support the billed codes, including functional progress toward goals.
- Grounds for discipline
- Unprofessional conduct, incompetence, impairment, fraud, and license violations are bases for Board sanction.
- Disciplinary process sequence
- A complaint triggers investigation, notice to the licensee, and an opportunity for a hearing before sanctions are imposed.
- Emergency suspension
- The Board may summarily suspend a license when continued practice poses an imminent risk to public safety.
- National database reporting
- Disciplinary actions are reported to databases such as the NPDB and may prompt action by other jurisdictions.
- CE categories
- Each renewal cycle requires continuing education hours including mandated ethics and jurisprudence categories approved by the Board.
- CE documentation retention
- Licensees must retain proof of continuing education completion and produce it if selected for a Board audit.
- Standard precautions
- Hand hygiene and appropriate personal protective equipment are required for all patient contact regardless of diagnosed infection status.
- Sharps disposal
- Needles and other sharps go into puncture-resistant containers, and needlestick exposures are reported and evaluated per protocol.
- Equipment disinfection
- Reusable treatment equipment must be cleaned and disinfected between patients following manufacturer instructions and facility policy.