Subdivision 1. Delegation requirements. A licensed speech-language pathologist may delegate duties to a speech-language pathology assistant in accordance with this section. Duties may only be delegated to an individual who has documented with a transcript from an educational institution satisfactory completion of either:
(1) an associate degree from a speech-language pathology assistant program that is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges or its equivalent as approved by the commissioner; or
(2) a bachelor's degree in the discipline of communication sciences or disorders with additional transcript credit in the area of instruction in assistant-level service delivery practices and completion of at least 100 hours of supervised field work experience as a speech-language pathology assistant student.
Subd. 2. Delegated duties; prohibitions. (a) A speech-language pathology assistant may perform only those duties delegated by a licensed speech-language pathologist and must be limited to duties within the training and experience of the speech-language pathology assistant.
(b) Duties may include the following as delegated by the supervising speech-language pathologist:
(1) assist with speech language and hearing screenings;
(2) implement documented treatment plans or protocols developed by the supervising speech-language pathologist;
(3) document client performance;
(4) assist with assessments of clients;
(5) assist with preparing materials and scheduling activities as directed;
(6) perform checks and maintenance of equipment;
(7) support the supervising speech-language pathologist in research projects, in-service training, and public relations programs; and
(8) collect data for quality improvement.
(c) A speech-language pathology assistant may not:
(1) perform standardized or nonstandardized diagnostic tests, perform formal or informal evaluations, or interpret test results;
(2) screen or diagnose clients for feeding or swallowing disorders, including using a checklist or tabulating results of feeding or swallowing evaluations, or demonstrate swallowing strategies or precautions to clients or the clients' families;
(3) participate in parent conferences, case conferences, or any interdisciplinary team without the presence of the supervising speech-language pathologist or other licensed speech-language pathologist as authorized by the supervising speech-language pathologist;
(4) provide client or family counseling or consult with the client or the family regarding the client status or service;
(5) write, develop, or modify a client's individualized treatment plan or individualized education program;
(6) select clients for service;
(7) discharge clients from service;
(8) disclose clinical or confidential information either orally or in writing to anyone other than the supervising speech-language pathologist; or
(9) make referrals for additional services.
(d) A speech-language pathology assistant must not sign any formal documents, including treatment plans, education plans, reimbursement forms, or reports. The speech-language pathology assistant must sign or initial all treatment notes written by the assistant.
Subd. 3. Supervision requirements. (a) A supervising speech-language pathologist shall authorize and accept full responsibility for the performance, practice, and activity of a speech-language pathology assistant.
(b) A supervising speech-language pathologist must:
(1) be licensed under sections 148.511 to 148.5198;
(2) hold a certificate of clinical competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association or its equivalent as approved by the commissioner; and
(3) have completed at least one continuing education unit in supervision.
(c) The supervision of a speech-language pathology assistant shall be maintained on the following schedule:
(1) for the first 90 workdays, within a 40-hour work week, 30 percent of the work performed by the speech-language pathology assistant must be supervised and at least 20 percent of the work performed must be under direct supervision; and
(2) for the work period after the initial 90-day period, within a 40-hour work week, 20 percent of the work performed must be supervised and at least ten percent of the work performed must be under direct supervision.
(d) For purposes of this section, "direct supervision" means on-site, in-view observation and guidance by the supervising speech-language pathologist during the performance of a delegated duty. The supervision requirements described in this section are minimum requirements. Additional supervision requirements may be imposed at the discretion of the supervising speech-language pathologist.
(e) A supervising speech-language pathologist must be available to communicate with a speech-language pathology assistant at any time the assistant is in direct contact with a client.
(f) A supervising speech-language pathologist must document activities performed by the assistant that are directly supervised by the supervising speech-language pathologist. At a minimum, the documentation must include:
(1) information regarding the quality of the speech-language pathology assistant's performance of the delegated duties; and
(2) verification that any delegated clinical activity was limited to duties authorized to be performed by the speech-language pathology assistant under this section.
(g) A supervising speech-language pathologist must review and cosign all informal treatment notes signed or initialed by the speech-language pathology assistant.
(h) A full-time, speech-language pathologist may supervise no more than one full-time, speech-language pathology assistant or the equivalent of one full-time assistant.
Subd. 4. Notification. Any agency or clinic that intends to utilize the services of a speech-language pathology assistant must provide written notification to the client or, if the client is younger than 18 years old, to the client's parent or guardian before a speech-language pathology assistant may perform any of the duties described in this section.
2004 c 279 art 1 s 14; 2005 c 147 art 7 s 19
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapter 148 — Public Health Occupations
Section 148.01 — Chiropractic.
Section 148.02 — Chiropractors; State Board Of Examiners.
Section 148.031 — Continuing Education.
Section 148.032 — Registration In Animal Chiropractic Diagnosis And Treatment.
Section 148.033 — Animal Chiropractic Continuing Education Hours.
Section 148.035 — Separate Treatment Room Required.
Section 148.05 — License And Fee.
Section 148.06 — Application; Examination; License; Fee.
Section 148.07 — Renewal Fees; Expenses.
Section 148.09 — Independent Examination.
Section 148.10 — Licenses Revoked; New Licenses.
Section 148.102 — Reports Of State Or Local Societies.
Section 148.103 — Immunity For Reporting Or Investigating.
Section 148.104 — Cooperation During Investigations.
Section 148.106 — Peer Review Of Services And Fees.
Section 148.107 — Record Keeping.
Section 148.171 — Definitions; Title.
Section 148.181 — Board Of Nursing Membership, Vacancies, Disclosure.
Section 148.191 — Officers; Staff; Powers.
Section 148.212 — Temporary Permit.
Section 148.231 — Registration; Failure To Register; Reregistration; Verification.
Section 148.233 — Identification Of Certified Registered Nurses.
Section 148.234 — State Boundaries Consideration.
Section 148.235 — Prescribing Drugs And Therapeutic Devices.
Section 148.243 — Fee Amounts.
Section 148.251 — Nursing Program.
Section 148.261 — Grounds For Disciplinary Action.
Section 148.263 — Reporting Obligations.
Section 148.265 — Nurse Cooperation.
Section 148.266 — Disciplinary Record On Judicial Review.
Section 148.267 — Reports To Commissioner Of Health.
Section 148.281 — Violations; Penalty.
Section 148.285 — Transfer Of Assets.
Section 148.512 — Definitions.
Section 148.513 — Licensure; Protected Titles And Restrictions On Use; Exemptions.
Section 148.514 — General Licensure Requirements; Procedures And Qualifications.
Section 148.515 — Qualifications For Licensure.
Section 148.516 — Licensure By Equivalency.
Section 148.5161 — Clinical Fellowship Licensure Or Doctoral Externship Licensure.
Section 148.517 — Licensure By Reciprocity.
Section 148.5175 — Temporary Licensure.
Section 148.518 — Licensure Following Lapse Of Licensure Status.
Section 148.519 — Licensure Procedures.
Section 148.5191 — Licensure Renewal.
Section 148.5192 — Speech-language Pathology Assistants.
Section 148.5193 — Continuing Education Requirements.
Section 148.5195 — Investigation Process And Grounds For Disciplinary Action.
Section 148.5196 — Speech-language Pathologist And Audiologist Advisory Council.
Section 148.5197 — Hearing Aid Dispensing.
Section 148.5198 — Restriction On Sale Of Hearing Aids.
Section 148.52 — Board Of Optometry.
Section 148.53 — Powers Of Board.
Section 148.56 — Optometrists.
Section 148.574 — Prohibitions Relating To Legend Drugs.
Section 148.575 — Certificate Required For Use Of Legend Drugs.
Section 148.577 — Standard Of Care.
Section 148.59 — License Renewal; License And Registration Fees.
Section 148.595 — Temporary Military Permit; Fee.
Section 148.603 — Grounds For Disciplinary Action.
Section 148.604 — Reporting Obligations.
Section 148.606 — Optometrist Cooperation.
Section 148.607 — Disciplinary Actions.
Section 148.621 — Definitions.
Section 148.622 — Board Of Dietetics And Nutrition Practice.
Section 148.623 — Duties Of The Board.
Section 148.624 — Licensure; Renewal.
Section 148.625 — Application.
Section 148.626 — Continuing Education Required.
Section 148.628 — Reciprocity.
Section 148.629 — Denial, Suspension, Or Revocation.
Section 148.630 — License Required.
Section 148.632 — Exemptions; Voluntary Licensing.
Section 148.633 — Disposition Of Funds.
Section 148.634 — Prescription Protocol.
Section 148.6402 — Definitions.
Section 148.6403 — Licensure; Protected Titles And Restrictions On Use; Exempt Persons; Sanctions.
Section 148.6404 — Scope Of Practice.
Section 148.6405 — Licensure Application Requirements: Procedures And Qualifications.
Section 148.6408 — Qualifications For Occupational Therapist.
Section 148.6410 — Qualifications For Occupational Therapy Assistants.
Section 148.6412 — Licensure By Equivalency.
Section 148.6415 — Licensure By Reciprocity.
Section 148.6418 — Temporary Licensure.
Section 148.6420 — Application Requirements.
Section 148.6423 — Licensure Renewal.
Section 148.6425 — Renewal Of Licensure; After Expiration Date.
Section 148.6428 — Change Of Contact Information Or Employment.
Section 148.6430 — Delegation Of Duties; Assignment Of Tasks.
Section 148.6432 — Supervision Of Occupational Therapy Assistants.
Section 148.6435 — Coordination Of Services.
Section 148.6438 — Recipient Notification.
Section 148.6443 — Continuing Education Requirements.
Section 148.6449 — Board Of Occupational Therapy Practice.
Section 148.66 — State Board Of Physical Therapy, Duties.
Section 148.67 — State Board Of Physical Therapy; Membership Appointments, Vacancies, Removals.
Section 148.691 — Officers; Executive Director.
Section 148.70 — Applicants, Qualifications.
Section 148.705 — Application.
Section 148.706 — Physical Therapist Assistants, Aides, And Students.
Section 148.71 — Temporary Permits.
Section 148.721 — Educational Requirements For Licensed Physical Therapist.
Section 148.722 — Educational Requirements For Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant.
Section 148.723 — Examination For Licensed Physical Therapist.
Section 148.724 — Examination For Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant.
Section 148.725 — Requirements For Foreign-educated Applicants.
Section 148.735 — Cancellation Of License In Good Standing.
Section 148.736 — Cancellation Of Credentials Under Disciplinary Order.
Section 148.737 — Cancellation Of License For Nonrenewal.
Section 148.741 — Applicability Of Rules.
Section 148.75 — Disciplinary Action.
Section 148.754 — Examination; Access To Medical Data.
Section 148.755 — Temporary Suspension Of License.
Section 148.76 — Prohibited Conduct.
Section 148.78 — Prosecution, Allegations.
Section 148.7802 — Definitions.
Section 148.7803 — Prohibited Practice Or Use Of Titles; Penalty.
Section 148.7804 — Powers Of The Board.
Section 148.7805 — Athletic Trainers Advisory Council.
Section 148.7806 — Athletic Training.
Section 148.7807 — Limitations On Practice.
Section 148.7808 — Licensure; Requirements.
Section 148.7809 — License Renewal.
Section 148.7810 — Board Action On Applications.
Section 148.7811 — Change Of Address.
Section 148.7812 — Continuing Education Requirements.
Section 148.7813 — Disciplinary Process.
Section 148.7814 — Applicability.
Section 148.881 — Declaration Of Policy.
Section 148.90 — Board Of Psychology.
Section 148.905 — Duties Of The Board.
Section 148.9051 — Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (psypact).
Section 148.907 — Licensed Psychologist.
Section 148.9075 — Exemptions To License Requirement.
Section 148.9077 — Relicensure.
Section 148.909 — Licensure For Volunteer Practice.
Section 148.9105 — Emeritus Registration.
Section 148.911 — Continuing Education.
Section 148.915 — Reciprocity.
Section 148.916 — Guest Licensure.
Section 148.925 — Supervision.
Section 148.941 — Disciplinary Action; Investigation; Penalty For Violation.
Section 148.96 — Presentation To Public.
Section 148.965 — Test Security.
Section 148.975 — Duty To Warn; Limitation On Liability; Violent Behavior Of Patient.
Section 148.98 — Rules Of Conduct.
Section 148.995 — Definitions.
Section 148.9965 — Designation Of Doula Certification Organizations By Commissioner.