Definitions

For purposes of this Article, the following words and phrases have been defined to mean:

(a)“Fieldwork” means a supervised clinical experience of a minimum of six

(6)months for occupational therapists, and a minimum of three

(3)months for Occupational Therapy Assistants, as arranged by the educational institution granting the degree.

(b)“Occupational therapy” means the evaluation and treatment provided to people whose lives have been disrupted by physical injury, illness, developmental problems, the aging process, or psychosocial or cognitive difficulties.

(1)Treatment entails the assessment, evaluation and treatment to assist each individual to achieve or return to an independent and productive life through techniques which prevent disability, assisting the individual in recovery from illness or accident and by promoting the development of functions which may have been impaired or delayed.

(2)The treatment provided may include, but shall not be limited to, the adaptation of the environment and the selection, design and fabrication of assistive and orthotic devices, and other technology to facilitate development and promote the acquisition of functional skills through purposeful activity.

(c)“Occupational therapist” means a person licensed to practice occupational therapy on Guam.

(d)“Occupational therapy assistant” means a person licensed to assist in the practice of occupational therapy who works under the indirect supervision of an occupational therapist, or as otherwise determined by the supervising occupational therapist.

(e)“Occupational therapy technician/aide” means a person who can assist in treatment oriented activities, under the direct supervision and presence of an occupational therapist or occupational CH. 12 MEDICAL PRACTICES - PART II therapy assistant, and whose activities require a general understanding of occupational therapy services acquired on-the-job.

(f)“NBCOT” means the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy.