Recent changes approved by the Board of Directors affect the definition of Direct Supervision as well as add language concerning  the Indirect Supervision of Assistants. 

The Direct Supervision change was made in response to the continued implementation of telehealth technologies in the O&P profession. The new definition of Direct Supervision is:

This level of supervision requires the supervising, credentialed individual to be available for consultation throughout the patient care process. The supervisor must:

•  be physically on site or be available in real-time via audio and visual technology
   while the care is being provided

•  perform a real-time visual assessment of the care provided to the patient

•  review the documentation of the services rendered by the supervised individual

•  countersign all entries by the caregiver in the patient’s clinical record within 15 days

To provide guidelines concerning the number of certified assistants that can reasonably be supervised by one practitioner, the following language was added to both the definition for Indirect Supervision and to the Assistant’s Scope:     

The maximum permissible ratio of certified assistants to the supervising prosthetist or orthotist is 5:1.

These changes became effective January 1, 2024. If you have additional questions, please contact Molly Maguire.

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