WHAT THE WASHINGTON STATE LAW ALLOWS
CHIROPRACTIC ASSISTANTS to DO

 

WAC 246-808-510     Definitions 

“Auxiliary services” means those services, excluding those practices which are restricted to licensed chiropractors, which may be needed for the support of chiropractic care. 

“Auxiliary staff” means personnel, except graduate doctors of chiropractic, who are working for or at the direction of a licensed doctor of chiropractic. 

“Chiropractor” means a person licensed pursuant to chapter 18.25 RCW. 

“Direct supervision” means having a licensed chiropractor on the premises and immediately available. 

“Graduate doctor of chiropractic” means a graduate of an approved chiropractic college who has applied for a Washington state chiropractic license.  Graduate doctors of chiropractic who have failed to pass the Washington state chiropractic examination within one year of applying for a Washington state chiropractic license may only perform auxiliary services.  Graduate doctors who have had their chiropractic license suspended or revoked shall not be authorized to perform any auxiliary services. 

 

WAC 246-808-535     DELEGATION OF SERVICES TO AUXILIARY STAFF AND GRADUATE DOCTORS OF CHIROPRACTIC

(1)        A licensed chiropractor may, within the confines of this section, delegate certain services to auxiliary staff and graduate doctors of chiropractic, provided that these services are performed under the licensed chiropractor’s direct supervision.  The supervising chiropractor shall be responsible for determining that auxiliary staff and graduate doctors of chiropractic are competent to perform the delegated services.  The licensed supervising chiropractor must render adequate supervision so that the patient’s health and safety is not at risk.

(2)        Auxiliary staff and graduate doctors of chiropractic shall not perform the following services:

Detection of subluxation
Adjustment or manipulation of the articulations of the spinal column or its immediate articulations
Interpretation or analysis of radiographs
Determining the necessity for chiropractic care
Orthopedic or neurological examinations, provided graduate doctors of chiropractic may perform preliminary orthopedic or neurological examinations under the direct supervision of a licensed chiropractor.

(3)        Auxiliary staff and graduate doctors of chiropractic may perform the following auxiliary services:  preliminary patient history, height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, and gross postural observation (active spinal range of motion utilizing a generally accepted measuring device).

POLICY STATEMENTS BY THE WASHINGTON STATE CHIROPRACTIC QUALITY ASSURANCE COMMISSION:

A doctor of chiropractic who instructs auxiliary staff to perform unauthorized services shall be considered as “aiding and abetting unlicensed practice” and shall be charged with “unprofessional conduct.” 
Possession of a registration certificate as a “chiropractic x-ray technician” shall allow that individual to take x-rays at the order of the doctor of chiropractic and under his/her supervision, but that supervision does not have to be “direct” supervision.  Those x-rays that are ordered by the doctor of chiropractic may be taken whether or not the doctor is in the office.

 

 
 
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