Physical Therapy

Test Your Knowledge of Law and Practice

Answers

1. According to Education Law, Article 130, section 6502, to practice in this State, all physical therapists and physical therapist assistants must register with the New York State:
   1. Education Department
   2. Health Department
   3. Office of Professional Discipline
   4. Worker's Compensation Board
      
      
   a. The New York State Education Department is authorized by law to regulate physical therapy, physical therapist assisting and 36 other licensed professions.
   
   
2. What is the function of the Office of Professional Discipline in relation to the practice of physical therapy?
   1. to convict professionals who commit State or Federal crimes
   2. to set guidelines for practice
   3. to monitor consumer complaints
   4. to investigate and prosecute allegations of professional misconduct
      
      
   d. The Office of Profession Discipline investigates and prosecutes all allegations of professional misconduct related to physical therapy practice in New York. The Attorney General prosecutes consumer complaints.
   
   
3. According to Education Law, Article 130, section 6502, a license shall be valid during the life of the holder unless the:
   1. Board of Regents revokes, annuls, or suspends the license
   2. Education Department files charges against the licensee
   3. licensee moves without proper notification
   4. licensee practices less than one day per month
      
      
   a. A license is valid during the life of the holder unless revoked, annulled or suspended by the Board of Regents.
   
   
4. According to Education Law, Article 130, section 6508, a board for each profession shall be appointed by the Board of Regents. The purpose of the State Board for Physical Therapy is to:
   1. assist the Board of Regents and the Department on matters of professional licensing, practice and conduct
   2. conduct investigations into misconduct
   3. register or approve educational programs
   4. review qualifications of all candidates for licensure
      
      
   a. The State Boards for the professions are committees of persons licensed in the profession plus at least one public representative who serve as advisors to the Board of Regents and the Department of Education on matters of professional licensing, practice and conduct.
   
   
5. According to Educational Law, Article 130, section 6509, which one of the following does not constitute professional misconduct?
   1. being convicted of a crime under Federal Law
   2. permitting an unlicensed person to perform activities requiring a license
   3. sharing professional fees with a partner authorized to practice the same profession
   4. willfully failing to notify the Department of any change in name or mailing address
      
      
   c. Regents Rule 29.1(b)(4) permits partners to share in the fees for professional services.
   
   
6. According to Rules of the New York State Board of Regents Part 29.2, a licensed professional is practicing proper infection control if:
   1. direct patient contact is discontinued when the licensee has weeping skin lesions
   2. gown and gloves only are donned if splattering blood is possible
   3. sharp items are placed in the trash
   4. the same protective equipment is used between patients
      
      
   a. Regents Rule 29.2(13)(xii) requires licensees to refrain from all direct patient care when the licensee has exudative lesions or weeping dermatitis that has not been medically evaluated to be safe or capable of being safely protected against.
   
   
7. According to the Rules of the New York State Board of Regents, Part 29.1 and 29.2, which of the following conduct is lawful?
   1. delegating professional responsibilities to a physical therapist assistant
   2. refusing to make available to a patient copies of health/medical records
   3. failing to wear an identification badge
   4. offering bonuses for a professional service
      
      
   a. A physical therapist may delegate certain professional responsibilities to a physical therapist assistant after determination of the competencies of the physical therapist assistant and given the limitations of Article 136, section 6738.
   
   
8. According to Education Law, Article 136, section 6731, from whom may a physical therapist accept a referral for treatment?
   1. chiropractor
   2. nurse midwife
   3. physician assistant
   4. optometrist
      
      
   c. According to law, a physical therapist may receive a referral and direction for treatment from a physician, dentist, podiatrist, or nurse practitioner. Since a physician assistant functions as an extension of a physician, physical therapists may also accept referrals for treatment from PAs.
   
   
9. Which one of the following statements is incorrect regarding the definition of Physical Therapy as stated in Education Law, Article 136, and section 6731?
   1. physical therapy includes performance and interpretation of tests and measurements to assess pathological, pathomechanical, and developmental deficits of human systems
   2. physical therapy includes the use of physical, chemical, and mechanical means to evaluate and treat
   3. physical therapy includes the use of x-rays or radium or the use of electricity for surgical purposes
   4. physical therapy is the evaluation, treatment or prevention of disability, injury, disease, or other conditions of health
      
      
   c. Physical therapy does not include the use of x-rays or radium, or the use of electricity for surgical procedures.
   
   
10. The use of a limited permit is necessary for a new graduate of a physical therapy program until such time as the graduate has passed the national licensure exam and been awarded a license by the Department of Education. The permittee shall practice only when:
    1. a licensed physical therapist is supervising on-site
    2. a licensed physical therapist or a physical therapist assistant is supervising on-site
    3. a licensed physical therapist is providing direct, personal supervision
    4. a licensed physical therapist is supervising on-site except when the physical therapist has determined that the program is one of maintenance
       
       
    d. Section 6735 (e) of Article 136, states that, with the exception of patients on maintenance programs as defined by Title XVIII of the federal social security act, the supervision of a permittee must be by a licensed physical therapist who is on-site but not necessarily providing direct, personal supervision.
    
    
11. Pursuant to Education Law, Article 136, section 6736, the only individual permitted to practice physical therapy in New York State without a license or certificate is:
    1. a new graduate of a physical therapy program
    2. a physical therapist assistant
    3. a physical therapist licensed in another state
    4. a physical therapy student engaged in clinical practice in an approved program of physical therapy
       
       
    d. Students enrolled in an approved physical therapy or physical therapist assistant program are exempt from requiring a license, certificate, or limited permit. Other exempt persons include: (1) a physical therapist graduate of an approved program provided they have on-site supervision of a licensed physical therapist, have applied and paid fees for licensing and for the examination, have applied and paid a fee for the limited permit and do not exceed 90 days after graduation; (2) a physical therapist employed by the United States government in the armed forces, the public health service or the veterans administration; and (3) a physical therapist licensed in another state or country conducting a teaching clinical demonstration if affiliated with an appropriate agency/association.
    
    
12. Which of the following can a physical therapist provide without an appropriate referral?
    1. debridement with scalpel
    2. evaluation
    3. joint mobilization
    4. myofascial release techniques
       
       
    b. Physical therapists can evaluate without a referral but cannot execute treatment procedures without appropriate referrals.
    
    
13. A physical therapist may direct/delegate a physical therapist assistant to do which of the following tasks?
    1. determine proper treatment progression
    2. measure range of motion
    3. treat a patient before a physical therapist evaluation/examination
    4. write a discharge note.
       
       
    b. A physical therapist assistant may conduct assessments and measurements but is precluded, by Section 6738 of Article 136, from duties that include evaluation, testing, interpretation, planning or modification of patient programs.
    
    
14. A physical therapist assistant is defined by all the following except:
    1. a person who works under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist
    2. a person whose duties include evaluation, testing, interpretation, planning or modification of patient programs.
    3. a person whose supervision by a physical therapist is determined to be continuous, but not necessarily on-site when a program has been determined to be maintenance or in a school or home care service setting.
    4. a person whose duties include patient-related activities as assigned by the physical therapist.
       
       
    b. Section 6738 of Article 136 defines physical therapist assistant and clearly states that the physical therapist assistant's duties shall not include evaluation, testing, interpretation, planning or modification of patient program.
    
    
15. Supervision of a physical therapist assistant in a home care service setting requires both the licensed physical therapist and the physical therapist assistant to follow specific conditions. Which of the following conditions is not correct?
    1. the setting of goals and establishment of a plan of care by the physical therapist
    2. an initial joint visit to the patient by the supervising physical therapist and the physical therapist assistant.
    3. periodic treatment and evaluation of the patient by the supervising physical therapist.
    4. supervision of three to four physical therapist assistants by one supervising physical therapist.
       
       
    d. In home care service settings, the ratio of physical therapists to physical therapist assistants shall not exceed the ratio of one physical therapist to two physical therapist assistants. In other locations, the ratio of physical therapists to physical therapist assistants may be as high as one to four.
    
    
16. Which is true concerning the definition of a physical therapist assistant as written in Education Law, section 6738 of Article 136?
    1. physical therapist assistants may treat children at home in early intervention programs
    2. physical therapist assistants may evaluate a child as long as the evaluation is reviewed by the physical therapist
    3. physical therapist assistants must work under the on-site supervision of a physical therapist
    4. physical therapist assistants may treat children in preschools, primary or secondary schools without on-site supervision
       
       
    d. Section 6738(d) states that physical therapist assistants may provide care to children in preschools, primary or secondary schools without on-site supervision.
    
    
17. Supervision of a physical therapist assistant can legally be conducted by which one of the following licensed professionals?
    1. a dentist
    2. a faculty-member of a physical therapist assistant program
    3. a physical therapist
    4. a physician specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation
       
       
    c. Only a physical therapist is lawfully permitted to supervise a physical therapist assistant. Physicians are precluded by law from performing this supervisory act.
    
    
18. Is it lawful for a physical therapist to treat animals in New York State?
    1. only if a licensed veterinarian provides on-site supervision
    2. only if the physical therapist is competent in the treatment provided
    3. only if the animal owner and the veterinarian agree
    4. under no circumstances
       
       
    d. New York State law restricts the practice of physical therapy to providing services to humans.
    
    
19. Which activities may an unlicensed aide perform?
    1. determining goniometry measurements
    2. mobilizing soft tissue
    3. performing ultrasound
    4. transporting patients
       
       
    d. New York State law restricts the practice of physical therapy to licensed physical therapists or certified physical therapist assistants. Individuals who are not licensed or certified may not provide physical therapy services. Aides may perform non-patient related activities such as secretarial, clerical and housekeeping tasks. Additionally, aides may act as an extra set of hands for the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant who is actually providing the treatment.
    
    
20. Which activities may an unlicensed physical therapy aide perform when doing maintenance care in a long term care facility?
    1. determining goniometry measurements
    2. mobilizing joints
    3. performing neurodevelopmental techniques
    4. providing superficial heat
       
       
    d. For residents on maintenance care in long term care facilities, a non-licensed aide may perform certain patient related activities including: providing superficial hot and cold applications; assisting with both range of motion exercises and exercises to maintain strength and endurance in clients without related pathology; and assisting with walking. However, the non-licensed individual providing such care must have received certification as a Nurse Aide (CNA) as well as additional specific training under the direction of a physical therapist.