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Maryland PT Jurisprudence study materials
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Maryland PT Jurisprudence practice questions

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Question 1Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

Under the Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act, which individual is authorized to perform physical therapy treatment without a referral from a physician, dentist, podiatrist, or chiropractor?

  1. A massage therapist with advanced manual therapy training
  2. A licensed physical therapist practicing within the scope of the Act Correct answer.
  3. A certified athletic trainer employed by a school district
  4. A physical therapist assistant working independently in a satellite office

Explanation

Maryland law grants licensed physical therapists the authority to evaluate and treat patients, and the Act permits practice without a physician referral in defined circumstances. Assistants may treat only under the direction and supervision of a licensed physical therapist. Other credentialed providers are governed by separate practice acts and cannot hold themselves out as providing physical therapy.

Question 2Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

A physical therapist licensed in Maryland moves to another state and wishes to treat a Maryland patient by telehealth while physically located out of state. Which statement best reflects Maryland's licensing requirement?

  1. Only a physician may authorize interstate telehealth physical therapy
  2. The therapist must hold a valid Maryland license because the patient is located in Maryland Correct answer.
  3. The therapist may practice on the other state's license alone if the patient travels to Maryland
  4. No license is needed because telehealth is exempt from the practice act

Explanation

Maryland regulates the practice of physical therapy on patients located within the state, so the treating therapist must be licensed by the Maryland board even when physically elsewhere. Holding only an out-of-state license is insufficient. Telehealth does not create a general exemption from licensure.

Question 3Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

Which activity falls within the statutory definition of physical therapy in Maryland?

  1. Diagnosing a fracture from a radiograph
  2. Evaluating and treating movement dysfunction using therapeutic exercise and manual techniques Correct answer.
  3. Performing electromyographic studies for the purpose of medical diagnosis
  4. Prescribing controlled substances for musculoskeletal pain

Explanation

The Act defines physical therapy around examination, evaluation, and treatment of movement and function through interventions such as therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, and modalities. Electromyography for diagnostic purposes, prescribing medications, and radiograph interpretation are outside that definition.

Question 4Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

A physical therapist wants to use dry needling as part of a treatment plan. Which statement is most consistent with Maryland requirements?

  1. Dry needling is prohibited entirely for Maryland physical therapists
  2. Dry needling requires the physical therapist to hold a specified certification or competence recognized by the board Correct answer.
  3. Dry needling may be delegated to a physical therapist assistant
  4. Dry needling may be performed by any licensed physical therapist without additional credentialing

Explanation

Maryland conditions the use of dry needling on the therapist holding the credentialing or training the board recognizes, reflecting the Act's treatment of the technique as a distinct competency. It is neither freely available to every licensee nor banned. It also cannot be delegated to an assistant.

Question 5Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

A physical therapist assistant is providing treatment. Which requirement must be satisfied under Maryland regulations?

  1. The assistant may perform the initial evaluation if the therapist is on vacation
  2. The assistant may alter the plan of care without notifying the therapist
  3. The assistant may supervise another assistant during peak caseload
  4. The assistant must be supervised by a licensed physical therapist who is available and provides direction Correct answer.

Explanation

Maryland regulations require that physical therapist assistants work under the supervision and direction of a licensed physical therapist. The initial evaluation and plan of care remain the therapist's responsibility. Assistants may not supervise other assistants or independently modify the plan of care.

Question 6Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

Which individual is required to obtain a Maryland physical therapist license before practicing?

  1. A physical therapist visiting Maryland for a one-day continuing education lecture
  2. A student completing a clinical affiliation as part of an accredited program
  3. An athletic trainer taping ankles at a high school
  4. A graduate who has passed the national examination and is treating patients for pay Correct answer.

Explanation

Any person who provides physical therapy services for compensation in Maryland must hold a Maryland license. Students in supervised clinical education are addressed separately as trainees, and lecturing or athletic training is not the practice of physical therapy on patients.

Question 7Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

An applicant for Maryland physical therapist licensure must satisfy which requirement in addition to passing the required examination?

  1. Five years of clinical experience in another state
  2. A master's degree in public health
  3. Graduation from an accredited physical therapist education program Correct answer.
  4. Membership in the state physical therapy association

Explanation

Maryland licensure is built on graduation from an accredited physical therapist program, successful completion of the required examination, and compliance with application requirements. Association membership and additional unrelated degrees are not licensure conditions.

Question 8Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

A licensee fails to renew a Maryland physical therapy license before the expiration date and continues treating patients. What is the most accurate description of the licensee's status?

  1. The license converts automatically to an assistant license
  2. The licensee is practicing without a valid license and may face disciplinary action Correct answer.
  3. The licensee may practice if a supervising physician signs the treatment notes
  4. The license remains valid because a grace period allows practice indefinitely

Explanation

Practicing after a license has lapsed constitutes unlicensed practice and exposes the licensee to disciplinary action by the board. There is no automatic conversion to another license type, and physician co-signature does not cure the lapse.

Question 9Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

Which continuing education obligation applies to a Maryland physical therapist at renewal?

  1. Continuing education is required only for therapists who supervise assistants
  2. Completion of a single jurisprudence course only once in a career
  3. No continuing education is required after the first renewal
  4. Completion of the continuing education units required by the board for the renewal cycle Correct answer.

Explanation

Maryland conditions license renewal on completing the continuing education units the board requires for the renewal period. The obligation is recurring rather than one-time, and it applies to all licensees rather than only supervisors.

Question 10Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

A patient asks a physical therapist to release copies of treatment records. Under Maryland practice, the therapist should generally do which of the following?

  1. Destroy the records after the episode of care to avoid liability
  2. Provide copies consistent with the patient's authorization and applicable record-release rules Correct answer.
  3. Refuse because physical therapy records are the property of the referring physician
  4. Release records only if the patient's employer requests them

Explanation

Patients have rights of access to their health records, and the therapist should respond to a proper authorization in accordance with Maryland record-release requirements. Records belong to the practice, not the referring physician, and retention rules do not permit routine destruction at discharge.

Question 11Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

A physical therapist discovers that a colleague is documenting treatment that was never provided. What is the most appropriate action consistent with Maryland law?

  1. Report the conduct only if the colleague is unlicensed
  2. Report the conduct to the board because falsifying records is grounds for discipline Correct answer.
  3. Confront the colleague and demand a share of the billing
  4. Ignore the conduct because documentation style is a personal matter

Explanation

Falsifying clinical records and billing for services not rendered are grounds for disciplinary action, and licensees have a professional obligation to report such conduct to the board. Documentation fraud is not a private stylistic matter, and it is reportable regardless of licensure status.

Question 12Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

Which statement about the use of the title "physical therapist" in Maryland is correct?

  1. Only a person licensed under the Act may use the title or hold out as a physical therapist Correct answer.
  2. The title may be used by assistants who have ten years of experience
  3. The title may be used in advertising by unlicensed clinics if services are supervised
  4. Any person who has completed a doctoral degree may use the title without a license

Explanation

Maryland restricts use of the title "physical therapist" and related designations to individuals licensed under the Act. Degrees, experience, or supervision arrangements do not authorize unlicensed use of the protected title.

Question 13Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

A physical therapist wishes to delegate a treatment procedure to a physical therapist assistant. Which factor is most important in determining whether delegation is proper?

  1. Whether the assistant has completed more continuing education than the therapist
  2. Whether the task is within the assistant's scope and the therapist provides the required supervision Correct answer.
  3. Whether the clinic bills the service as a therapist service
  4. Whether the patient signs a waiver of therapist involvement

Explanation

Delegation to an assistant depends on the task falling within the assistant's lawful scope and on the physical therapist providing the supervision and direction Maryland requires. Relative continuing education hours, patient waivers, and billing labels do not expand the assistant's authority.

Question 14Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

Which circumstance most clearly requires a physical therapist to obtain a new referral or authorization before continuing treatment in Maryland?

  1. The therapist changes a therapeutic exercise from one day to the next
  2. The patient requests a different appointment time
  3. The patient's insurance copay changes at the start of the year
  4. The patient's physician referral specifies a limited number of visits that have been exhausted Correct answer.

Explanation

When a referral or authorization limits the number of visits or the period of care, continuing beyond that limit requires renewed authorization. Scheduling changes, exercise progression, and insurance cost-sharing changes do not by themselves require a new referral.

Question 15Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

A physical therapist is treating a patient whose condition worsens with new neurological signs. What is the therapist's most appropriate obligation under Maryland practice standards?

  1. Discharge the patient without further communication
  2. Ask the assistant to determine whether referral is needed
  3. Recognize the change, communicate with the appropriate provider, and document the action taken Correct answer.
  4. Continue the plan unchanged until the next scheduled reassessment

Explanation

Physical therapists must recognize changes in patient status that exceed their scope and coordinate with the appropriate provider, documenting the communication. Continuing unchanged or discharging without communication fails that duty, and the assistant cannot make the referral decision.

Question 16Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

Which of the following best describes the Maryland board's authority over a licensee who practices while impaired?

  1. The board may act only after the employer terminates the licensee
  2. The board has no authority because impairment is a medical issue
  3. The board may take disciplinary action, including suspension or other sanctions Correct answer.
  4. The board may act only if a criminal conviction has already occurred

Explanation

The board may discipline a licensee whose practice is impaired, using sanctions that can include suspension or conditions on practice. Board action does not depend on a prior criminal conviction or on the employer's employment decision.

Question 17Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

A licensee receives a complaint notice from the Maryland board. Which response is most consistent with the licensee's obligations?

  1. Alter patient records before responding
  2. Respond truthfully and cooperatively within the required time Correct answer.
  3. Ignore the notice because it is not a court summons
  4. Ask colleagues to submit identical letters of support in place of a response

Explanation

Licensees are expected to cooperate with board investigations and respond truthfully within required deadlines. Ignoring the notice, altering records, or substituting form letters for a substantive response can themselves become grounds for discipline.

Question 18Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

Which statement correctly describes the composition or purpose of the Maryland State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners?

  1. It adjudicates malpractice claims and awards damages to patients
  2. It sets standards, issues licenses, and disciplines licensees to protect the public Correct answer.
  3. It serves as a professional association that promotes member business interests
  4. It sets reimbursement rates for physical therapy services

Explanation

The board is a regulatory body whose mission is public protection through licensure, standards, and discipline. It is not a trade association, a rate-setting agency, or a forum for adjudicating malpractice damages.

Question 19Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

A physical therapist assistant performs an initial examination and establishes a diagnosis for a new patient. Which statement best evaluates this conduct?

  1. It is outside the assistant's scope because examination and diagnosis are reserved to the physical therapist Correct answer.
  2. It is permissible because assistants hold independent licenses
  3. It is permissible only if the patient signs an informed consent form
  4. It is permissible if the physical therapist reviews the note the following week

Explanation

Examination, evaluation, diagnosis, and establishment of the plan of care are physical therapist responsibilities in Maryland. An assistant who performs them exceeds the assistant's scope, and later review or patient consent does not cure the violation.

Question 20Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

A physical therapist wants to advertise services in a way that is consistent with Maryland requirements. Which approach is most appropriate?

  1. Promising a guaranteed cure for all musculoskeletal conditions
  2. Omitting the license designation to appear more exclusive
  3. Using only accurate descriptions of credentials and services actually provided Correct answer.
  4. Advertising a specialty certification the therapist does not hold to attract patients

Explanation

Advertising must be truthful and must not misrepresent credentials, services, or outcomes. Claiming unheld certifications, guaranteeing cures, or obscuring licensure status can constitute false or misleading advertising subject to discipline.

Question 21Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

Which of the following best describes the rule on a physical therapist providing services to a patient with whom the therapist has a close personal relationship?

  1. The relationship is permitted if the patient is a family member and consents
  2. The therapist should avoid the dual relationship because it may impair professional judgment and constitute misconduct Correct answer.
  3. The relationship is permitted only if another therapist writes the notes
  4. The relationship is permitted if the therapist charges a reduced fee

Explanation

Entering a professional relationship in the presence of a close personal relationship risks impaired judgment and exploitation, which Maryland treats as unprofessional conduct. Reduced fees, consent, or note-writing arrangements do not resolve the underlying conflict.

Question 22Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

Under Maryland law, which of these actions by a licensed physical therapist would most likely be considered unprofessional conduct?

  1. Documenting a reassessment at the required interval
  2. Releasing records after proper patient authorization
  3. Discharging a patient who no longer needs skilled care
  4. Practicing under the influence of alcohol while treating patients Correct answer.

Explanation

Practicing while impaired by alcohol or drugs is a classic ground for discipline because it endangers patients. Appropriate discharge, authorized record release, and timely reassessment are consistent with professional standards rather than violations.

Question 23Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

A physical therapist is asked to supervise a physical therapy aide. Which statement best describes the aide's permissible role in Maryland?

  1. The aide may perform joint mobilization if the therapist is in the building
  2. The aide may perform routine non-treatment tasks and may not provide skilled physical therapy interventions Correct answer.
  3. The aide may perform initial evaluations under direct supervision
  4. The aide may independently design exercise programs for new patients

Explanation

Aides may assist with non-skilled, routine tasks but may not perform skilled physical therapy interventions or functions reserved to licensed personnel. Initial evaluation, manual therapy, and program design require the licensed physical therapist.

Question 24Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

A patient's employer asks a physical therapist for the patient's diagnosis without the patient's authorization. What is the most appropriate response?

  1. Provide the diagnosis because employers have a right to workers' compensation information
  2. Provide the full record because the employer pays the premium
  3. Decline to release the diagnosis without proper authorization, subject to applicable legal exceptions Correct answer.
  4. Provide the diagnosis only verbally to avoid a paper trail

Explanation

Protected health information, including diagnosis, generally requires patient authorization before release, subject to specific legal exceptions. Paying premiums or being the employer does not create a general right of access, and verbal release to avoid documentation is equally improper.

Question 25Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

Which statement about a physical therapist's obligation when a patient refuses recommended care is most accurate?

  1. The therapist should ask the assistant to obtain consent for the refused care
  2. The therapist should document the refusal, discuss risks, and respect the patient's decision Correct answer.
  3. The therapist should treat the patient anyway because the plan was prescribed
  4. The therapist should terminate care immediately without discussion

Explanation

Respecting patient autonomy requires informing the patient of the risks of refusal, documenting the discussion, and honoring the decision. Forcing treatment or abrupt termination without discussion is inconsistent with informed consent and professional obligations.

Question 26Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

Under Maryland law, which document must a physical therapist obtain from a patient before disclosing protected health information to a third party for purposes unrelated to treatment, payment, or operations?

  1. A court order issued by a Maryland circuit court
  2. A referral form completed by the treating physician
  3. A verbal statement of agreement recorded in the note
  4. A signed written authorization from the patient Correct answer.

Explanation

Maryland law and the federal privacy framework require a written, signed authorization before a provider discloses protected health information for purposes outside treatment, payment, or health care operations. A verbal agreement or physician referral does not substitute for that authorization.

Question 27Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

A Maryland physical therapist assistant is completing documentation for a treatment session. Which individual bears the ultimate responsibility for the physical therapy services documented in the patient record?

  1. The referring physician
  2. The supervising physical therapist Correct answer.
  3. The physical therapist assistant who performed the treatment
  4. The clinic's billing manager

Explanation

The supervising physical therapist retains professional responsibility for the physical therapy services provided, including appropriate supervision and review of documentation. The assistant contributes to the record but does not hold the supervising role.

Question 28Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

Which Maryland entity is responsible for issuing licenses to physical therapists and physical therapist assistants practicing in the state?

  1. The Maryland State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners Correct answer.
  2. The Maryland Board of Physicians
  3. The local health department in the licensee's county
  4. The Maryland Department of Health

Explanation

The Maryland State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners is the regulatory body that licenses and disciplines physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. Other agencies do not hold that licensing authority for the physical therapy professions.

Question 29Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

A physical therapist in Maryland is establishing a plan of care for a patient with a new musculoskeletal complaint. Which element is essential to include in the initial documentation?

  1. A copy of the referring physician's entire medical record
  2. Only the patient's insurance authorization number
  3. The names of all family members contacted
  4. The diagnosis or clinical impression, goals, and planned interventions Correct answer.

Explanation

The initial plan of care must document the clinical impression or diagnosis, measurable goals, and the interventions planned, so that subsequent care can be evaluated against it. Administrative data alone does not constitute a plan of care.

Question 30Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

A patient in Maryland asks to inspect their physical therapy record. Which response by the physical therapist is most consistent with Maryland requirements?

  1. Require the patient to obtain a court order before viewing the record
  2. Provide access to the record within the timeframe set by Maryland law, with limited permitted exceptions Correct answer.
  3. Refuse access until the patient's treatment episode has ended
  4. Provide only a verbal summary and withhold the written record

Explanation

Maryland law gives patients a right to inspect and obtain copies of their medical records, subject to narrow exceptions, and sets a timeframe for responding. Blanket refusal or requiring litigation is inconsistent with that right.

Question 31Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

A physical therapist assistant in Maryland wants to perform a procedure that the supervising physical therapist has not included in the plan of care. What is the most appropriate action?

  1. Decline to perform it until the physical therapist evaluates and authorizes it Correct answer.
  2. Perform it if the patient requests it
  3. Perform it and notify the physical therapist afterward
  4. Ask the front desk staff to approve the addition

Explanation

Assistants practice under the direction of the supervising physical therapist and within the established plan of care, so a procedure outside that plan must first be evaluated and authorized by the therapist. Retroactive notification or patient request does not create authority.

Question 32Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

Which of the following is a recognized ground for disciplinary action against a Maryland physical therapy licensee?

  1. Practicing beyond the scope of the license held Correct answer.
  2. Documenting a treatment session on the day it occurred
  3. Treating a patient who was referred by a physician
  4. Charging a fee that the patient agreed to in writing

Explanation

Practicing outside the scope of the license is a recognized basis for discipline by the Board. Lawful referral-based treatment, timely documentation, and agreed fees are not themselves grounds for discipline.

Question 33Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

A Maryland physical therapist is moving and will treat patients in a new outpatient clinic. What must the licensee do regarding the Board?

  1. Apply for a new license for the new county
  2. Nothing, because the license is not location-specific
  3. Notify the Board of the change of address as required by regulation Correct answer.
  4. Transfer the license to the clinic's owner

Explanation

Licensees must keep the Board informed of current contact information so that official correspondence and renewals reach them. The license follows the individual, but the required address update does not disappear with a move.

Question 34Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

A Maryland physical therapist wants to provide services via telehealth to a patient located in another state. Which consideration is most important?

  1. Whether the patient has previously been treated in Maryland
  2. Whether the clinic has a physical office in Maryland
  3. Whether the therapist's Maryland malpractice premium covers out-of-state care
  4. Whether the patient's location state requires the therapist to hold a license there Correct answer.

Explanation

Licensure generally follows the location of the patient at the time of service, so a therapist delivering telehealth across state lines must determine whether the other state requires a license there. Insurance and office location do not resolve the licensure question.

Question 35Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

A Maryland physical therapist assistant has been practicing for several years and wants to perform joint mobilization that the supervising therapist has not delegated. What is the correct analysis?

  1. The assistant may perform it only if the supervising therapist delegates it and it is within the assistant's authorized scope Correct answer.
  2. The assistant may perform it after completing a weekend course
  3. The assistant may perform it independently once experienced
  4. The assistant may perform it if the patient signs a consent form

Explanation

An assistant's authority depends on both the scope permitted for assistants and delegation by the supervising physical therapist; experience, consent, or a short course does not independently expand that authority. The therapist must evaluate and delegate consistent with the plan of care.

Question 36Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

A Maryland physical therapist suspects that a minor patient is being abused. Which action is most consistent with Maryland requirements?

  1. Report only if the physical therapist has photographic proof
  2. Report the suspicion to the appropriate Maryland authority as required by law Correct answer.
  3. Confront the suspected abuser before reporting
  4. Wait until the treatment episode ends to report

Explanation

Maryland law requires health care practitioners to report suspected child abuse or neglect to the designated authority; proof beyond suspicion is not a precondition. Confronting a suspected abuser is not the mandated pathway.

Question 37Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

A Maryland physical therapist is asked by an insurance carrier to disclose a patient's full record for a utilization review. Which approach is most appropriate?

  1. Disclose the entire record to avoid delaying payment
  2. Refuse all disclosure because the request comes from an insurer
  3. Ask the patient's employer to authorize the release
  4. Disclose only the information needed for the review under an applicable authorization or legal basis Correct answer.

Explanation

Disclosures should be limited to the minimum necessary information and must rest on a valid authorization or another legal basis such as payment operations. Blanket refusal and over-disclosure both fail that standard.

Question 38Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

A Maryland physical therapist accepts a gift of significant value from a patient in gratitude for care. Which statement best describes the professional concern?

  1. It is permitted because patients may freely give gifts
  2. Accepting it may create a conflict of interest or exploit the therapeutic relationship Correct answer.
  3. It is prohibited only for physical therapist assistants
  4. It is permitted if the therapist documents the gift in the note

Explanation

The therapeutic relationship is unequal, so accepting gifts of substantial value can exploit the patient's dependence and create a conflict of interest. Documentation does not neutralize that concern, and the standard applies across license types.

Question 39Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

A Maryland physical therapist wants to use an unlicensed aide to assist with patient care. Which task may the aide appropriately perform?

  1. Adjusting a plan of care based on patient response
  2. Interpreting a diagnostic imaging report
  3. Performing an initial examination
  4. Transporting patients and preparing treatment areas under direction Correct answer.

Explanation

Aides may perform non-clinical supportive tasks under direction, such as patient transport and preparing equipment or treatment areas. Clinical evaluation, plan modification, and interpretation of imaging require licensed professional judgment.

Question 40Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

A Maryland physical therapist is asked to supervise more assistants and aides than can be reasonably overseen during a busy shift. Which action is most consistent with the therapist's obligations?

  1. Decline or restructure the assignment so that adequate supervision can be provided Correct answer.
  2. Accept the assignment if the patients sign a waiver
  3. Accept the assignment and delegate all monitoring to an aide
  4. Accept the assignment and document that supervision was limited

Explanation

Supervision must be adequate for the care delegated, so a therapist should not accept an assignment that makes meaningful oversight impossible. Documenting inadequate supervision or shifting oversight to unlicensed staff does not satisfy the obligation.

Question 41Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

A Maryland physical therapist is developing a discharge plan for a patient who still needs assistance with mobility. Which element is most important to include?

  1. The therapist's personal opinion about the patient's motivation
  2. A summary of the patient's status and recommendations for continued care or equipment Correct answer.
  3. Only the date of the final visit
  4. A list of all appointments the patient missed

Explanation

A discharge summary should communicate the patient's status at discharge and recommendations for follow-up care, equipment, or referral so that continuity is preserved. A bare date or unrelated commentary does not serve that purpose.

Question 42Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

A Maryland physical therapist is asked to sign a certification for a patient's disability leave. The therapist has not evaluated the patient and has no supporting records. What is the most appropriate response?

  1. Sign the form because the patient's employer requested it
  2. Ask an aide to sign the form instead
  3. Decline to certify until an evaluation and supporting documentation exist Correct answer.
  4. Sign the form and note that no evaluation was performed

Explanation

Certifying a patient's condition requires an actual evaluation and documentation supporting the stated limitations. Signing without evaluation, or delegating the signature to an aide, would be inaccurate and improper.

Question 43Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

A Maryland physical therapist is reviewing a colleague's note and sees that it describes treatment that differs from what the therapist observed. What is the most appropriate first step?

  1. Ignore the discrepancy because documentation styles vary
  2. Alter the colleague's note to match the observed treatment
  3. Report the colleague to the Board before any internal discussion
  4. Discuss the discrepancy directly with the colleague and, if unresolved, follow the facility's reporting process Correct answer.

Explanation

The appropriate first step is a direct professional discussion, escalating through the facility's established process if the concern is not resolved. Altering another clinician's record is improper, and internal review generally precedes external reporting.

Question 44Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

A Maryland physical therapist is asked to treat a patient outside the therapist's demonstrated competence, with no qualified backup available. What is the most appropriate action?

  1. Provide the service and document the limited competence
  2. Provide the service only if the patient agrees verbally
  3. Decline to provide the service and refer the patient to a qualified provider Correct answer.
  4. Provide the service while learning on the job

Explanation

A licensee should provide only services within their competence, and where competence is lacking the patient should be referred to a qualified provider. Learning on a patient and documenting a limitation do not substitute for competence.

Question 45Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

A Maryland physical therapist is planning to open a cash-pay practice that does not bill insurance. Which statement best describes the therapist's obligations?

  1. Documentation may be omitted because no insurer will review the record
  2. Only the federal standards apply because no state funds are involved
  3. The therapist may practice without a license if no insurance is billed
  4. The same licensure, documentation, and practice standards apply regardless of payment method Correct answer.

Explanation

Licensure, documentation, and professional practice standards apply to the delivery of physical therapy services regardless of how the therapist is paid. Billing method does not create an exemption from state regulation.

Question 46Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

A Maryland physical therapist is asked to provide a copy of a patient's record to the patient's attorney under a valid authorization. Which response is most appropriate?

  1. Refuse because attorneys are not health care providers
  2. Provide the requested records consistent with the authorization and applicable fee rules Correct answer.
  3. Provide the entire record regardless of what the authorization covers
  4. Provide the record only after the patient's treatment ends

Explanation

A valid patient authorization permits release of the specified records, subject to Maryland rules on fees and format. Refusing categorically or releasing beyond the authorization both misapply the requirement.

Question 47Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

A Maryland physical therapist discovers that a patient's condition has changed such that the current plan of care may no longer be appropriate. Which action best reflects the therapist's responsibility?

  1. Re-evaluate the patient and revise the plan of care as clinically indicated Correct answer.
  2. Ask the assistant to revise the plan independently
  3. Continue the existing plan until the next scheduled recertification
  4. Discharge the patient without further evaluation

Explanation

When a patient's condition changes, the physical therapist must re-evaluate and revise the plan of care to match the current clinical picture. Waiting for a scheduled date or delegating revision to an assistant is inconsistent with that duty.

Question 48Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

A Maryland physical therapist is the subject of a Board investigation and is considering whether to continue treating the patients involved. Which approach is most consistent with the licensee's obligations?

  1. Continue treating patients but decline to respond to the Board
  2. Stop all care immediately and destroy the records at issue
  3. Ask colleagues to alter records to resolve the concerns
  4. Continue providing necessary care while cooperating with the investigation and preserving records Correct answer.

Explanation

An investigation does not relieve the therapist of the duty to provide necessary care, and the licensee must cooperate and preserve relevant records. Destroying or altering records and refusing to respond would themselves be serious violations.

Question 49Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

A Maryland physical therapist is offered a financial incentive by a durable medical equipment supplier for each device ordered for patients. Which analysis is most accurate?

  1. The arrangement is acceptable because suppliers commonly offer incentives
  2. Accepting per-item payments tied to ordering creates an improper conflict and may violate law Correct answer.
  3. The arrangement is acceptable if the therapist discloses it to patients
  4. The arrangement is acceptable if the devices are clinically appropriate

Explanation

Remuneration tied to ordering creates a financial conflict that can compromise clinical judgment and may violate federal and state fraud and abuse rules. Clinical appropriateness, disclosure, or industry custom does not cure the improper inducement.

Question 50Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations

A Maryland physical therapist assistant is directed by the supervising therapist to perform a task that the assistant believes is outside the assistant's legal scope. Which response is most appropriate?

  1. Perform the task and document the therapist's direction as authorization
  2. Decline to perform the task and raise the scope concern with the supervising therapist Correct answer.
  3. Perform the task only if the patient consents
  4. Perform the task because a licensed therapist gave the direction

Explanation

A direction from a supervisor cannot expand the assistant's legal scope, so the assistant should decline and resolve the concern with the therapist. Relying on supervision, documentation, or patient consent does not make an out-of-scope act lawful.