The following words, terms, and phrases, when used in the rules of the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

(1) Accredited curriculum in physical therapy education--A body of courses in a physical therapy program at a school, college, or university which has satisfied the accreditation standards of the Commission on Accreditation for Physical Therapy Education.

(2) Accredited physical therapist assistant program--A body of courses at a school, college, or university which has satisfied the accreditation standards of the Commission on Accreditation for Physical Therapy Education.

(3) Asymptomatic--Without obvious signs or symptoms of disease.

(4) Board-approved organization or entity--an organization or entity to which the board has formally delegated a role in the licensure, regulation or enforcement functions of the Physical Therapy Practice Act and board rules.

(5) Endorsement--The process by which the board issues a license to a person currently licensed in another state, the District of Columbia, or territory of the United States that maintains professional standards considered by the board to be substantially equivalent to those set forth in the Act.

(6) Emergency circumstances--Instances where emergency medical care is called for, including first aid.

(7) Emergency medical care--Bona fide emergency services provided after the sudden onset of a medical condition manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity, including severe pain, such that the absence of immediate medical attention could reasonably be expected to result in placing the patient's health in serious jeopardy, serious impairment to bodily functions, or serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part.

(8) Evaluation--A dynamic process in which the physical therapist makes clinical judgments based on data gathered during the examination.

(9) Evidence satisfactory to the board--Should all official school records be destroyed, sworn affidavits satisfactory to the board must be received from three persons having personal knowledge of the applicant's physical therapy education. These affidavits will not be used when official school records are available.

(10) Examination--A comprehensive screening and specific testing process leading to diagnostic classification or, as appropriate, to a referral to another practitioner. The examination has three components: the patient/client history, the systems review, and tests and measures.

(11) Foreign-trained applicant--Any applicant whose entry-level professional physical therapy education was obtained at a physical therapy program outside the U.S., its territories, or the District of Columbia.

(12) Hearing--An adjudicative proceeding concerning the issuance, denial, suspension, reprimand, revocation of license, after which the legal rights of an applicant or licensee are to be determined by the board.

(13) Jurisprudence exam--An open-book examination made up of multiple-choice and/or true/false questions covering information contained in the Texas Physical Therapy Practice Act and Board rules.

(14) On-site supervision--The physical therapist or physical therapist assistant is on the premises and readily available to respond.

(15) Physical therapy--The evaluation, examination, and utilization of exercises, rehabilitative procedures, massage, manipulations, and physical agents including, but not limited to, mechanical devices, heat, cold, air, light, water, electricity, and sound in the aid of diagnosis or treatment. Physical therapists may perform evaluations without referrals. Physical therapy practice includes the use of modalities, procedures, and tests to make evaluations. Physical therapy practice includes, but is not limited to the use of: Electromyographic (EMG) Tests, Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV) Tests, Thermography, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), bed traction, application of topical medication to open wounds, sharp debridement, provision of soft goods, inhibitive casting and splinting, Phonophoresis, Iontophoresis, and biofeedback services.

(16) Supervision--The delegation and continuing direction by a person or persons responsible for the practice of physical therapist, physical therapist assistant, or physical therapy aide as specified in the Physical Therapy Practice Act.

Source Note: The provisions of this §321.1 adopted to be effective March 1, 1986, 11 TexReg 719; amended to be effective September 28, 1988, 13 TexReg 4575; amended to be effective December 12, 1989, 14 TexReg 6277; amended to be effective January 7, 1992, 16 TexReg 7644; amended to be effective January 12, 1993, 18 TexReg 63; amended to be effective November 11, 1993, 18 TexReg 7545; amended to be effective November 6, 1995, 20 TexReg 8793; amended to be effective May 8, 1996, 21 TexReg 3794; amended to be effective July 9, 1996, 21 TexReg 6078; amended to be effective April 28, 1997, 22 TexReg 3588; amended to be effective October 6, 1998, 23 TexReg 9978; amended to be effective April 15, 1999, 24TexReg 2935; amended to be effective May 14, 2000, 25 TexReg 4351; amended to be effective November 16, 2000, 25 TexReg 11285; amended to be effective August 15, 2001, 26 TexReg 6020; amended to be effective September 18, 2006, 31 TexReg 7997; amended to be effective February 13, 2012, 37 TexReg 689