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92_HB4107
LRB9214314ACmg
1 AN ACT concerning physical therapy aides.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The Illinois Physical Therapy Act is amended
5 by changing Sections 1 and 2 as follows:
6 (225 ILCS 90/1) (from Ch. 111, par. 4251)
7 (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2006)
8 Sec. 1. Definitions. As used in this Act:
9 (1) "Physical therapy" means the evaluation or treatment
10 of a person by the use of the effective properties of
11 physical measures and heat, cold, light, water, radiant
12 energy, electricity, sound, and air; and the use of
13 therapeutic massage, therapeutic exercise, mobilization, and
14 the rehabilitative procedures with or without assistive
15 devices for the purposes of preventing, correcting, or
16 alleviating a physical or mental disability, or promoting
17 physical fitness and well-being. Physical therapy includes,
18 but is not limited to: (a) performance of specialized tests
19 and measurements, (b) administration of specialized treatment
20 procedures, (c) interpretation of referrals from physicians,
21 dentists and podiatrists, (d) establishment, and modification
22 of physical therapy treatment programs, (e) administration of
23 topical medication used in generally accepted physical
24 therapy procedures when such medication is prescribed by the
25 patient's physician, licensed to practice medicine in all its
26 branches, the patient's physician licensed to practice
27 podiatric medicine, or the patient's dentist, and (f)
28 supervision or teaching of physical therapy. Physical
29 therapy does not include radiology, electrosurgery,
30 chiropractic technique or determination of a differential
31 diagnosis; provided, however, the limitation on determining a
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1 differential diagnosis shall not in any manner limit a
2 physical therapist licensed under this Act from performing an
3 evaluation pursuant to such license. Nothing in this Section
4 shall limit a physical therapist from employing appropriate
5 physical therapy techniques that he or she is educated and
6 licensed to perform. A physical therapist shall refer to a
7 licensed physician, dentist, or podiatrist any patient whose
8 medical condition should, at the time of evaluation or
9 treatment, be determined to be beyond the scope of practice
10 of the physical therapist.
11 (2) "Physical therapist" means a person who practices
12 physical therapy and who has met all requirements as provided
13 in this Act.
14 (3) "Department" means the Department of Professional
15 Regulation.
16 (4) "Director" means the Director of Professional
17 Regulation.
18 (5) "Committee" means the Physical Therapy Examining
19 Committee approved by the Director.
20 (6) "Referral" for the purpose of this Act means the
21 following of guidance or direction to the physical therapist
22 given by the physician, dentist, or podiatrist who shall
23 maintain supervision of the patient.
24 (7) "Documented current and relevant diagnosis" for the
25 purpose of this Act means a diagnosis, substantiated by
26 signature or oral verification of a physician, dentist, or
27 podiatrist, that a patient's condition is such that it may be
28 treated by physical therapy as defined in this Act, which
29 diagnosis shall remain in effect until changed by the
30 physician, dentist or podiatrist.
31 (8) "State" includes:
32 (a) the states of the United States of America;
33 (b) the District of Columbia; and or
34 (c) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
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1 (9) "Physical therapist assistant" means a person
2 licensed to assist a physical therapist and who has met all
3 requirements as provided in this Act and who works under the
4 supervision of a licensed physical therapist to assist in
5 implementing the physical therapy treatment program as
6 established by the licensed physical therapist. The patient
7 care activities provided by the physical therapist assistant
8 shall not include the interpretation of referrals, evaluation
9 procedures, or the planning of, or major modification
10 modifications of, patient programs.
11 (10) "Physical therapy aide" means any support person a
12 person who has received on the job training, specific to the
13 facility in which he or she is employed and may be involved
14 in providing physical therapist directed services that may
15 include patient-related or nonpatient-related duties, but who
16 has not completed an approved physical therapist assistant
17 program.
18 (Source: P.A. 85-1440; 86-1396; revised 12-04-01.)
19 (225 ILCS 90/2) (from Ch. 111, par. 4252)
20 (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2006)
21 Sec. 2. Licensure requirement; exempt activities.
22 Practice without a license forbidden - exception. No person
23 shall after the date of August 31, 1965 begin to practice
24 physical therapy in this State or hold himself out as being
25 able to practice this profession, unless he is licensed as
26 such in accordance with the provisions of this Act. After the
27 effective date of this amendatory Act of 1990, no person
28 shall practice or hold himself out as a physical therapist
29 assistant unless he is licensed as such under this Act.
30 This Act does not prohibit:
31 (1) Any person licensed in this State under any
32 other Act from engaging in the practice for which he is
33 licensed.
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1 (2) The practice of physical therapy by those
2 persons, practicing under the supervision of a licensed
3 physical therapist and who have met all of the
4 qualifications as provided in Sections 7, 8.1, and 9 of
5 this Act, until the next examination is given for
6 physical therapists or physical therapist assistants and
7 the results have been received by the Department and the
8 Department has determined the applicant's eligibility for
9 a license. Anyone failing to pass said examination shall
10 not again practice physical therapy until such time as an
11 examination has been successfully passed by such person.
12 (3) The practice of physical therapy for a period
13 not exceeding 6 months by a person who is in this State
14 on a temporary basis to assist in a case of medical
15 emergency or to engage in a special physical therapy
16 project, and who meets the qualifications for a physical
17 therapist as set forth in Sections 7 and 8 of this Act
18 and is licensed in another state as a physical therapist.
19 (4) Practice of physical therapy by qualified
20 persons who have filed for endorsement for no longer than
21 one year or until such time that notification of
22 licensure has been granted or denied, whichever period of
23 time is lesser.
24 (5) One or more licensed physical therapists from
25 forming a professional service corporation under the
26 provisions of the "Professional Service Corporation Act",
27 approved September 15, 1969, as now or hereafter amended,
28 and licensing such corporation for the practice of
29 physical therapy.
30 (6) Physical therapy aides from performing patient
31 care activities under the direction and on-site
32 supervision of a licensed physical therapist or licensed
33 physical therapist assistant who is present in the
34 immediate area and who is involved in each treatment
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1 session in which a component of treatment is directed to
2 a physical therapy aide. These patient care activities
3 shall not include interpretation of referrals, evaluation
4 procedures, the planning of or major modifications of,
5 patient programs.
6 (7) Physical Therapist Assistants from performing
7 patient care activities under the general supervision of
8 a licensed physical therapist. The physical therapist
9 must maintain continual contact with the physical
10 therapist assistant including periodic personal
11 supervision and instruction to insure the safety and
12 welfare of the patient.
13 (8) The practice of physical therapy by a physical
14 therapy student or a physical therapist assistant student
15 under the on-site supervision of a licensed physical
16 therapist. The physical therapist shall be readily
17 available for direct supervision and instruction to
18 insure the safety and welfare of the patient.
19 (9) The practice of physical therapy as part of an
20 educational program by a physical therapist licensed in
21 another state or country for a period not to exceed 6
22 months.
23 (Source: P.A. 90-580, eff. 5-21-98.)
24 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
25 becoming law.