Privileging 

What is direct supervision?

What is indirect supervision?

Do supervisors need to be physically within 60 minutes of the supervised patient care provider?

Where can I find additional information regarding privileging and supervision?

What is direct supervision?
Direct Supervision requires the supervising credentialed individual to be available in real time for consultation throughout the patient care process and to be able to assess the care being provided by visual means (i.e., physically present, live video, web cam, or by other means of live visual technology). The supervisor must review the results of care and the documentation of the services rendered by the supervised individual and is responsible for countersigning within 15 days all
entries by the caregiver in the patient’s clinical record.

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What is indirect supervision?
Indirect Supervision does not require the supervising credentialed individual to be on-site however they must be available for consultation throughout the patient care process. The supervisor must review the results of care and the documentation of the services rendered by the supervised individual and is responsible for countersigning within 15 days all entries in the patient’s
clinical record.

Do supervisors need to be physically within 60 minutes of the supervised patient care provider?
As long as supervisors are available in real time for consultation throughout the patient care process (see explanation above), supervisors do not need to remain within 60 minutes from the site of care.

For additional information regarding privileging and supervision, please refer to the  Scope of Practice (pages 22-24) that are listed on ABC’s website or the summary below: 

Supervision and Privileging of a Credentialed Caregiver

Privileging of credentialed individuals to provide services beyond their defined scope of practice must ensure appropriate, effective, ethical and safe delivery of patient care. The credentialed caregiver may be privileged, under Indirect Supervision, to provide patient care beyond the scope of their credential
based on Written Objective Criteria.

Privileging of a credentialed caregiver is limited to the following:
Prosthetics:
Orthotists and Prosthetic Assistants who are credentialed by a nationally recognized Orthotic, Prosthetic and Pedorthic certifying board or are licensed1, if applicable, may be privileged based on Written Objective Criteria to provide prosthetic care.
Orthotics:
Prosthetists, Pedorthists, Orthotic Assistants and Orthotic Fitters who are credentialed by a nationally recognized Orthotic, Prosthetic and Pedorthic certifying board or are licensed, if applicable, may be privileged based on Written Objective Criteria to provide orthotic care.
Pedorthics:
Orthotic Assistants, Orthotic Fitters and Therapeutic Shoe Fitters who are credentialed by a nationally recognized Orthotic, Prosthetic and Pedorthic certifying board or are licensed, if applicable, may be privileged based on Written Objective Criteria to provide pedorthic care.

ABC credentialed technicians may be privileged based on Written Objective Criteria to provide services, in the discipline they are credentialed, in the Implementation of the Treatment Plan
and Follow-up domains under Indirect Supervision.

The orthotic, prosthetic or pedorthic patient care services provided by the privileged credentialed caregiver which are beyond their scope of practice must not exceed ABC’s defined scope of practice for Orthotists, Prosthetists or Pedorthists. The Supervisor must review the results of care and the documentation of the services rendered by the supervised individual and is responsible for countersigning within 15 days all entries by the caregiver in the patient’s clinical record. The Supervisor is responsible for all services that the caregiver is being privileged
to provide.

Supervision and Privileging of a Non-Credentialed Caregiver

Supervision and privileging of a non-credentialed caregiver must ensure appropriate, effective, ethical and safe delivery of patient care. The non-credentialed caregiver may be privileged to assist in the provision of patient care based on Written Objective Criteria. In situations where either prosthetic, custom fabricated orthotic or custom fit-high* orthotic items are being provided the initial patient assessment, formulation of the treatment plan and the final fitting and delivery must be done under Direct Supervision (see Supervision Matrix below). For all other levels of care the non-credentialed caregiver is privileged under Indirect Supervision, where the Supervisor must be available for consultation throughout the patient care process. Please see the Exam Candidate definition for information regarding individuals who have completed an NCOPE accredited orthotic and/or prosthetic Residency.

The orthotic, prosthetic or pedorthic patient care services provided by the non-credentialed caregiver must not exceed ABC’s defined scope of practice for Orthotists, Prosthetists or Pedorthists.

The Supervisor must review the results of care and the documentation of the services rendered by the non-credentialed caregiver and is responsible for countersigning within 15 days all entries by the caregiver in the patient’s clinical record. The supervisor is responsible for all acts performed by the
privileged individual.

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