Does the OT have to meet with the client before delegating assessments to the OTA to administer as evaluation tools?
Rule .0905(1)(a)(ix) of The Rules of the North Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy states that the OT must initiate the evaluation. In occupational therapy practice, the term initiate is understood to mean making the first, in person, face-to-face contact with the client. In the initial contact with the client the OT: (1) determines the need for service, (2) defines the problems within the domain of occupational therapy that need to be addressed, (3) determines the clients goals and priorities, (4) establishes intervention priorities, (5) determines specific further assessment needs, and (6) determines specific assessment tasks that can be delegated to the OTA. After the initial contact with the client by the OT, the OTA may implement specifically delegated assessments for which service competency has been established, demonstrated and documented. The OT is then responsible for completing the evaluation, interpreting the information provided by the OTA who completed the assessments,
