Section 1315.165  Professional Conduct Standards

All licensed occupational therapists or occupational therapy assistants shall comply with the standards of professional conduct set forth in this Section.  Any violation of these conduct rules may be considered unethical, unauthorized or unprofessional conduct.  The Division may suspend or revoke a license, refuse to issue or renew a license, or take other disciplinary action, based upon the finding of "unethical, unauthorized or unprofessional conduct" within the meaning of Section 19 of the Act.

a)         Individuals licensed under the Act shall be required, when signing official patient records, to designate licensure by including the notation OT/L (Occupational Therapist, Licensed) or OTR/L (Occupational Therapist, Registered/Licensed) or COTA/L (Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant/Licensed) after the licensee's signature.

b)         Occupational therapy practitioners shall respect the rights of the recipients of their services.

1)         Occupational therapy practitioners should act to prevent and eliminate discrimination against any person or group on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin, marital status, political belief, mental or physical handicap, or any other preference or personal characteristic, condition or status.

2)         Occupational therapy practitioners shall avoid those relationships or activities that interfere with professional judgment and objectivity. Occupational therapy practitioners shall not have relationships that exploit the recipient of services sexually, physically, emotionally, financially, socially or in any other manner.

3)         Occupational therapy practitioners shall strive to ensure that fees are fair, reasonable and commensurate with the service performed and are set with due regard for the service recipient's ability to pay.

4)         Occupational therapy practitioners shall collaborate with service recipients or their surrogates in determining goals and priorities throughout the intervention process.

5)         Occupational therapy practitioners shall fully inform the service recipients of the nature, risks and potential outcomes of any interventions.

6)         Occupational therapy practitioners shall obtain informed consent from subjects involved in research activities indicating they have been fully advised of the potential risks and outcomes.

7)         Occupational therapy practitioners shall respect the individual's right to refuse professional services or involvement in research or educational activities.

8)         Occupational therapy practitioners shall protect the confidential nature of information gained from educational, practice and research activities.

c)         Occupational therapy practitioners shall achieve and continually maintain high standards of competence.

1)         Occupational therapy practitioners shall take responsibility for maintaining competence by participating in professional development and educational activities.

2)         Occupational therapy practitioners shall perform their duties on the basis of accurate and current information.

3)         Occupational therapy practitioners shall protect service recipients by ensuring that duties assumed by or assigned to other occupational therapy personnel are commensurate with their qualifications and experience.

4)         Occupational therapy practitioners shall provide appropriate supervision to consult with other service providers when additional knowledge and expertise are required.

5)         Occupational therapy practitioners shall refer recipients to other service providers or consult with other service providers when additional knowledge and expertise are required.

d)         Occupational therapy practitioners shall comply with laws and rules in relation to the profession of occupational therapy.

1)         Occupational therapy practitioners shall understand and abide by local, State and federal laws and institutional rules.

2)         Occupational therapy practitioners shall require those they supervise in occupational therapy activities to adhere to the professional conduct rules established in this Part.

3)         Occupational therapy practitioners shall accurately record and report all information related to professional activities.

e)         Occupational therapy practitioners shall provide accurate information about occupational therapy services.

1)         Occupational therapy practitioners shall accurately represent their qualifications, education, experience, training and competence.

2)         Occupational therapy practitioners shall disclose to recipients any affiliations that may pose a conflict of interest.

3)         Occupational therapy practitioners shall refrain from using or participating in the use of any form of communication that contains false, fraudulent, deceptive, or unfair statements or claims.

f)         Occupational therapy practitioners shall treat colleagues and other professionals with fairness, discretion and integrity.

1)         Occupational therapy practitioners shall safeguard confidential information about colleagues and staff.

2)         Occupational therapy practitioners shall accurately represent the qualifications, views, contributions and findings of colleagues.

g)         Pursuant to Section 19(8) of the Act, the Division incorporates by reference the Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics of the American Occupational Therapy Association, 4720 Montgomery Lane, Ste. 200, Bethesda, Maryland 20814-3489, April 2015, with no later amendments or editions.

(Source:  Amended at 39 Ill. Reg. 14520, effective November 6, 2015)