As Amended
SEC. 73-24-3. Definitions.
The following words and phrases shall have the following meanings, unless the context requires otherwise:
(a) "Association" shall mean the Mississippi Occupational Therapy Association.
(b) "Board" shall mean the Mississippi State Board of Health.
(c) "Occupational therapy" means the therapeutic use of purposeful and meaningful (goal-directed) activities and/or exercises to evaluate and treat individuals who have, or are at risk for, a disease or disorder, impairment, activity limitation or participation restriction which interferes with their ability to function independently in daily life roles and to promote health and wellness across the lifespan.
Occupational therapy intervention may include:
(i) Remediation or restoration of performance abilities that are limited due to impairment in biological, physiological, psychological or neurological processes.
(ii) Adaptation of task, process or the environment, or the teaching of compensatory techniques in order to enhance functional performance.
(iii) Disability prevention methods and techniques which facilitate the development or safe application of functional performance skills.
(iv) Health promotion strategies and practices which enhance functional performance abilities.
Occupational therapy services include, but are not limited to:
(i) Evaluating, developing, improving, sustaining or restoring skill in activities of daily living (ADLS), work or productive activities, including instrumental activities of daily living (IADLS), play and leisure activities.
(ii) Evaluating, developing, remediating or restoring physical, sensorimotor, cognitive or psychosocial components of performance.
(iii) Designing, fabricating, applying or training in the use of assistive technology or orthotic devices, and training in the use of prosthetic devices.
(iv) Adaptation of environments and processes, including the application of ergonomic principles, to enhance functional performance and safety in daily life roles.
(v) Application of physical agent modalities as an adjunct to or in preparation for engagement in occupations/functional activities.
(vi) Evaluating and providing intervention in collaboration with the client, family, caregiver or other.
(vii) Educating the client, family, caregiver or others in carrying out appropriate nonskilled interventions.
(viii) Consulting with groups, programs, organizations or communities to provide population-based services.
(ix) Participation in administration, education and research, including both clinical and academic environments.
(d) "Occupational therapist" shall mean a person licensed to practice occupational therapy as defined in this chapter, and whose license is in good standing.
(e) "Occupational therapy assistant" shall mean a person licensed to assist in the practice of occupational therapy under the supervision of or with the consultation of the licensed occupational therapist, and whose license is in good standing.
(f) "Occupational therapy aide" shall mean a person not licensed in the field of occupational therapy who assists occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants in the practice of occupational therapy, is under the direct supervision of the licensed occupational therapist or licensed occupational therapy assistant, and whose activities require an understanding of occupational therapy * * *.
(g) "Person" shall mean any individual, partnership, unincorporated organization or corporate body, except that only an individual may be licensed under this chapter.
(h) "Council" shall mean the Mississippi Advisory Council in Occupational Therapy.
SOURCES: Laws, 1988, ch. 451, § 2; Laws, 2001, ch. 424, § 1, SB 2343, eff from and after July 1, 2001.
PREVIOUS VERSIONS: Pre-2001