Legislation	Secretary of Senate	Members	Committees	Meetings	Home	House

SB 25 - Physical Therapy Act - practice of physical therapy, physiotherapy

Thomas, Nadine (10th)	Madden, Eddie M (47th)

Status Summary	SC:	CAFF	HC:		FR:	01/15/99	LA:	01/15/99	S - Read 1st time

First Reader Summary

A bill to amend Chapter 33 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the "Georgia Physical Therapy Act," so as to change the provisions relating to definitions, practice of physical therapy and physiotherapy and use of certain words relating thereto; to provide for informed consent; to change the provisions regarding disciplinary sanctions.

SB 25  99                                        LC 11 9651/1 
 
      SENATE BILL 25 
 
      By:  Senators Thomas of the 10th and Madden of the 47th 
 
 
                        A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 
                               AN ACT 
 
 
  1- 1  To amend Chapter 33 of Title 43 of the Official Code of 
  1- 2  Georgia Annotated, the "Georgia Physical Therapy Act," so as 
  1- 3  to change the provisions relating to definitions, practice 
  1- 4  of physical therapy and physiotherapy and use of certain 
  1- 5  words relating thereto; to provide for informed consent; to 
  1- 6  change the provisions regarding disciplinary sanctions; to 
  1- 7  repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. 
 
  1- 8       BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA: 
 
  1- 9                           SECTION 1. 
 
  1-10  Chapter 33 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia 
  1-11  Annotated, the "Georgia Physical Therapy Act," is amended by 
  1-12  striking paragraph (7) of Code Section 43-33-3, relating to 
  1-13  definitions, and inserting in its place the following: 
 
  1-14      "(7) 'Physical therapy' or 'physiotherapy' means the 
  1-15      care and services provided by or under the direction and 
  1-16      supervision of a licensed physical therapist. 
 
  1-17      (7.1) 'Practice of physical therapy' means the 
  1-18      examination, treatment, intervention, and instruction of 
  1-19      human beings to detect, assess, prevent, correct, 
  1-20      alleviate, rehabilitate, and limit physical disability, 
  1-21      bodily malfunction and pain from injury, disease, and 
  1-22      any other bodily and mental conditions and includes the 
  1-23      administration, interpretation, documentation, and 
  1-24      evaluation of tests and measurements of bodily functions 
  1-25      and structures; the planning, administration, 
  1-26      evaluation, and modification of treatment and 
  1-27      instruction, including the use of physical measures, 
  1-28      activities, and devices, for preventative preventive and 
  1-29      therapeutic purposes; and the provision of consultative, 
  1-30      educational, and other advisory services for the purpose 
  1-31      of preventing or reducing the incidence and severity of 
  1-32      physical disability, bodily malfunction, and pain." 
 
 
 
 
 
                                 -1- 
 
 
 
  2- 1                           SECTION 2. 
 
  2- 2  Said chapter is further amended by striking the introductory 
  2- 3  language immediately preceding the designated paragraphs of 
  2- 4  Code Section 43-33-11, relating to licenses and permissible 
  2- 5  titles, and inserting in its place the following: 
 
  2- 6    "A physical therapist shall display either the title 
  2- 7    'physical therapist' or the abbreviation 'P.T.' on a name 
  2- 8    tag or other similar form of identification during times 
  2- 9    when such person is providing direct patient care.  A 
  2-10    physical therapist assistant shall display either the 
  2-11    title 'physical therapist assistant' or the abbreviation 
  2-12    'P.T.A.' on a name tag or other similar form of 
  2-13    identification during times when such person is providing 
  2-14    direct patient care.  A physical therapy aide shall be 
  2-15    required to display the title 'physical therapy aide' on a 
  2-16    name tag or other similar form of identification during 
  2-17    times when such person is assisting a licensee. No person 
  2-18    shall practice as a physical therapist or function as a 
  2-19    physical therapist assistant nor hold himself or herself 
  2-20    out as being able to practice as a physical therapist or 
  2-21    function as a physical therapist assistant or as providing 
  2-22    practicing physical therapy or physiotherapy or use the 
  2-23    initials P.T. or P.T.A. in conjunction therewith or use 
  2-24    any word or title to induce the belief that he or she is 
  2-25    engaged in the practice of physical therapy unless he or 
  2-26    she holds a license and otherwise complies with the 
  2-27    provisions of this chapter and the rules and regulations 
  2-28    adopted by the board.  An informed consent shall be 
  2-29    obtained from the patient prior to the initiation of 
  2-30    physical therapy.  Nothing in this Code section shall be 
  2-31    construed as preventing or restricting the practice, 
  2-32    services, or activities of:". 
 
  2-33                           SECTION 3. 
 
  2-34  Said chapter is further amended by striking paragraph (1) of 
  2-35  subsection (a) of Code Section 43-33-18, relating to 
  2-36  disciplinary sanctions, and inserting in its place the 
  2-37  following: 
 
  2-38      "(1) Implemented a program of physical therapy treatment 
  2-39      without consultation with an appropriate licensed 
  2-40      practitioner of the healing arts intervention not 
  2-41      consistent with prevailing standards of practice or the 
  2-42      code of ethics established by the board, or, in the case 
  2-43      of practice as a physical therapist assistant, practiced 
 
 
 
                                 -2- 
 
 
 
  3- 1      other than under the supervision and direction of a 
  3- 2      licensed physical therapist;". 
 
  3- 3                           SECTION 4. 
 
  3- 4  All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are 
  3- 5  repealed. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                 -3-