24.222.301 DEFINITIONS

(1) "Asynchronous" means interactive transmission of data occurring bi-directionally in real time and:

(a) when applied to telepractice, not requiring the patient and the provider be available at the same time. Examples of such communication, also known as "store-and-forward" transmission, include e-mails, faxes, recorded video clips, audio files, and virtual technologies and e-learning programs; or

(b) when applied to supervision of aides/assistants, not requiring the aide/assistant supervisor and the aide/assistant be available at the same time. Examples of such communication, also known as "store-and-forward" transmission, include e-mails, faxes, recorded video clips, audio files, and virtual technologies and e-learning programs.

(2) Audiology aides or assistants shall be classified in one of the following categories:

(a) "audiology aide or assistant" means a person meeting the minimum requirements established by the board who performs any of the activities defined under the "practice of audiology" definition of 37-15-102, MCA, under the supervision of a licensed audiologist; and

(b) "industrial audiology aide or assistant" means an audiology aide who conducts pure tone air conduction threshold audiograms for the purpose of industrial hearing tests in addition to other acts and services as provided in the statutes and rules.

(3) "Certificate of clinical competence" means a current certificate issued by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

(4) "Professional experience supervisor" means the Montana licensed speech-language pathologist who supervises the holder of a Montana limited license during the supervised professional experience as described in statute and these rules. The professional experience supervisor must have:

(a) a Montana license in good standing; and

(b) been licensed for at least two years, excluding any period of licensure under a limited license.

(5) Speech-language pathology aides/assistants shall be classified in one of the following categories:

(a) "aide/assistant I" means a person who holds an undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders or has successfully completed a post-baccalaureate program in communication sciences and disorders; and

(b) "aide/assistant II" means a person who does not hold an undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders.

(6) "Supervision of aide/assistant" means observation and guidance by the supervising licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist while a clinical activity is performed by the speech-language pathology or audiology aide/assistant and may include the following:

(a) observation of a portion of the screening or treatment procedures performed by the aide or assistant;

(b) coaching the aide or assistant; and

(7) "Synchronous" means interactive transmission of data occurring bi-directionally in real time and:

(a) when applied to telepractice, requiring the patient and the provider be available at the same time. Examples of such communication include videoconferencing, remote control software application, computer applications, e-mail, and self-monitoring/testing model (which refers to the patient who receives the services and provides data to the provider without a facilitator present at the site of the patient); or

(b) when applied to supervision of aides/assistants, requiring the aide/assistant supervisor and the aide/assistant be available at the same time. Examples of such communication include videoconferencing, remote control software application, computer applications, and e-mail.

History: 37-1-131, 37-15-202, 37-15-301, MCA; IMP, 37-1-131, 37-15-102, 37-15-202, 37-15-301, 37-15-303, 37-15-313, MCA; NEW, Eff. 3/7/76; AMD, 1981 MAR p. 363, Eff. 4/17/81; TRANS, from Dept. of Prof. & Occup. Lic., Ch. 274, L. 1981, Eff. 7/1/81; AMD, 1983 MAR p. 274, Eff. 4/1/83; AMD, 1999 MAR p. 408, Eff. 3/12/99; TRANS, from Commerce, 2004 MAR p. 2284; AMD, 2006 MAR p. 2413, Eff. 10/6/06; AMD, 2008 MAR p. 385, Eff. 2/29/08; AMD, 2017 MAR p. 2079, Eff. 11/10/17; AMD, 2018 MAR p. 2306, Eff. 11/17/18.