N.J. Admin. Code § 13:30-8.17 - Delegation of physical modalities
(a) A dentist may
delegate the administration of certain physical modalities to licensed dental
hygienists, registered dental assistants, limited registered dental assistants,
and unregistered dental assistants consistent with their particular scopes of
practice as set forth in
N.J.A.C.
13:30-1A.3, 1A.4,
2.4, 2.5, and 2.6 and as set
forth in this section.
(b)
Physical modalities, for the purpose of this section, shall be limited to hot
and cold packs, ultrasound, electrogalvanic stimulation, transcutaneous
electrical nerve stimulation ("T.E.N.S.") and phonophoresis.
(c) A dentist may delegate the administration
of the physical modalities set forth in (b) above to licensed dental
hygienists, registered dental assistants, and limited registered dental
assistants consistent with their particular scopes of practice as set forth in
N.J.A.C.
13:30-1A.3, 1A.4,
2.4, and 2.5, provided all of the following
conditions are satisfied:
1. The dentist
shall examine the patient to ascertain the nature of the dental condition or
disease; to determine whether the application of a physical modality will
encourage the alleviation of dentally related pain and the promotion of
healing; to assess the risks of the modality for a given patient and the
diagnosed condition, injury or disease, and to decide that the anticipated
benefits are likely to outweigh those risks.
2. The dentist shall examine the patient
prior to each visit and shall determine all components of the treatment to be
performed. This determination shall include all types of modalities to be
employed, a delineation of the precise area to which the application of each
modality shall be limited, the dosage, wattage, or other applicable setting,
the length of the treatment, and any and all other factors peculiar to the
risks of that modality such as strict avoidance of certain parts of the body or
static placement of the applicator. This information shall be written on the
patient's chart prior to each patient's treatment after the dentist has
examined the patient, and it shall be made available at all times to the
licensed dental hygienist, registered dental assistant or limited registered
dental assistant who is responsible for administering the modality.
3. The dentist shall evaluate the patient
prior to any subsequent scheduled application of the modality to ascertain that
continued treatment is appropriate and that no contraindications to treatment
have become apparent.
4. The
dentist shall be physically present in the dental office at all times that
treatment orders are being carried out and shall be within reasonable proximity
to the treatment room.
(d) A dentist may delegate the administration
of hot or cold packs to unlicensed assistants. No other physical modalities as
set forth in (b) above shall be performed by an unlicensed assistant.
(e) On a health insurance claim form
pertaining to physical modalities and requiring certification by the dentist,
the dentist shall identify the specific modality applied and shall not
generically identify the treatment as physical therapy.
Notes
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