64B7-23.001. Definitions

(1) “Patient” means any person presenting as a client to receive massage therapy treatment.

(2) “Health goal” means the desired overall progressive improvement in the patient’s condition as stated by the patient.

(3) “Treatment goal” means the desired improvement in the patient’s condition arising from specific massage therapy treatment, as stated by the patient.

(4) “Treatment plan” means a written document describing:

(a) The patient’s subjective reason for treatment, health goals and treatment goals;

(b) Objective assessment method or methods used to determine appropriate massage therapy treatment;

(c) Assessment outcomes, including indications and contraindications for massage therapy treatment;

(d) Massage therapy treatment to be administered, including the number of treatments to be administered under the treatment plan, the duration of each treatment, the expected outcomes of each treatment; and,

(e) The outcomes of each administered treatment.

(5) “Massage therapy assessment” or “assessment” means the determination of the course of massage therapy treatment as an ongoing, systematic process of gathering patient information which is made:

(a) Prior to providing any treatment; and,

(b) In accordance with Rule 64B7-23.007, F.A.C.

(6) “Massage therapy treatment” or “treatment” means massage therapy performed on a patient which employs techniques, modalities or skills determined by assessment to be appropriate for the patient.

(7) “Indication” means evidence that a proposed massage therapy treatment is likely to have a positive impact on the condition of the patient.

(8) “Contraindication” means evidence that a proposed massage therapy treatment may pose a health risk to the patient or may have a negative impact on their condition.

(9) “Drape” means an inviolable barrier applied to the body of a patient for massage therapy treatment that is of a sufficient size to provide the patient with personal privacy, security and warmth, such as a hospital gown, sheet, blanket, towel or clothing.

(10) “Draping” means the act of applying a drape or drapes to the patient’s body for massage therapy treatment. Appropriate draping includes coverage of the genitalia, groin, femoral triangle, anus, buttocks, gluteal cleft, and breasts at all times unless the patient gives specific informed consent to be undraped and written specific informed consent is noted in the patient’s treatment plan.

(11) “Place of practice” means any place in which a massage therapist provides massage therapy treatment to a patient. For the purposes of reporting place of practice pursuant to Section 456.035, F.S., a therapist may use:

(a) The address of a massage establishment where they are currently employed; or,

(b) The address of the office of a physician licensed under Chapter 457, 458, 459, or 460 F.S., so long as they are providing massage therapy treatment to patients of the physician, pursuant to Section 480.043(14), F.S.; or,

(c) If the massage therapist  practices exclusively at the residences of patients, the offices of patients, or at sporting events, conventions, or trade shows, pursuant to Section 480.046(1)(o), F.S., the massage therapist may use the massage therapist’s residential address.

Rulemaking Authority 480.035(7) FS. Law implemented 456.035(7), 480.033(10), 480.033(12), 480.046(1)(o) FS. History–New 2-1-22.