PT_Nov_2023_newsltr

[Type a quote from the

document or the summary

of an interesting point. You

can position the text box anywhere in the document. Use the Drawing Tools tab to

change the formatting of the pull quote text box.]

Inside This Issue

1 CCU Compliance

2 Adopted/Proposed Rules

3 Disciplinary Action

5 Upcoming PT Board Meetings

6 License Expiration 12/31/2023

6 Agency Holiday Schedule

Physical Therapy Board

Harvey Aikman, PT, Chair

Liesl Olson, PT, Vice Chair

Kathryn “Kate” Roby, PT, Sec.

Manuel “Tony” Domenech, PT

Melissa Skillern, PT

Omar Palomin, PT

Donivan Hodge, Public Member

Jacob Delgado, Public Member

Glenda Clausell, Public

Member

Communiqué

November 2023

TEXAS BOARD OF PHYSICAL THERAPY EXAMINERS

1801 Congress Ave, Suite 10.900 512-305-6900

Austin, Texas 78701

ptot.texas.gov

pppppppexas.gov

Next Board Meeting

January 26, 2024

1801 Congress Ave, Ste.10.900

Austin, Texas 78701

CCU Compliance

Being compliant with all of the CCU requirements could mean the

difference between a successful and timely renewal of your license

or a referral to the Investigation Department and possible

disciplinary action.

How can you assure that you are compliant? Ask yourself the

following questions prior to beginning the renewal process.

Do I have the required number of CCUs? PTs must obtain 30 CCUs,

and PTAs must obtain 20 CCUs.

Are the CCUs obtained during my renewal period? Your renewal

period is the first day of the month following your previous license

expiration date through your current license expiration date.

Are the courses I took approved for TX renewal requirements? All

continuing education courses submitted to satisfy PT/PTA renewal

requirements must be approved through the Continuing

Competence Approval Program (CCAP) which is administered by

the Texas Physical Therapy Association (TPTA) for the Texas Board

of Physical Therapy Examiners (PT Board) or offered by a TX

Accredited Provider. Information on CCAP is available online at

https://ccap.tpta.org/.

Does the activity I participated in qualify for CCUs? PT Rules §341.3

lists the qualifying continuing competence activities that can be

used to satisfy the renewal requirement. A pdf of the current PT

Rules is available online at https://ptot.texas.gov/act-and-rules/. A

list of pre-approved categories is available online at

https://ptot.texas.gov/cc-ce/.

Continued pg. 2

PAGE 2

Communiqué

CCU Compliance, cont. from pg. 1

Have I taken and passed the mandatory TX Jurisprudence Assessment Module (TX JAM)? The TX JAM must

be taken and passed during each renewal period and is valued at 2 CCUs toward the total requirement. You

do not need to wait until you are in the process of renewing your license to take the TX JAM. Information is

available online at https://ptot.texas.gov/pt-jam/.

Have I taken a mandatory HHS-approved Human Trafficking Prevention Training course? Only courses on

the HHS-approved list meet this requirement, and a minimum of 1 CCU must be taken during each renewal

period. For the list of HHS-approved courses go to https://www.hhs.texas.gov/services/safety/texas-

human-trafficking-resource-center/health-care-practitioner-human-trafficking-training.

Taking a few minutes to ensure that you meet ALL of the CCU renewal requirements prior to beginning

the renewal process could prevent an adverse action against your license in the long run.

Adopted/Proposed Rules

The Board took the following rulemaking actions at its October 13, 2023 meeting.

Adopted Rules: §329.1. General Licensure Requirements and Procedures - the amendment is adopted in

order to eliminate reference to an address of record, changes the wording from residential to home address,

and adds phone numbers and email addresses to the change of information that a licensee is required to

report to the board. Additionally, the amendment clarifies that name changes must be submitted on a form

prescribed by the board with the appropriate fee and a copy of legal documentation enacting the name

change, and eliminates the requirement of making a name change with the renewal application.

§329.6. Licensure by Endorsement and §329.7. Exemptions from Licensure - the amendments are adopted

in order to authorize a military service member to engage in the practice of physical therapy without

obtaining a license as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant if the military service member is

currently licensed in good standing by another jurisdiction that has licensing requirements that are

substantially equivalent to the requirements for the licensure in this state and the military service member

is stationed at a military installation in this state. The amendments are adopted pursuant to SB 422

amendment of Sec. 55.0041. RECOGNITION OF OUT-OF-STATE LICENSE OF MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS

AND MILITARY SPOUSES, of Chapter 55, Occupations Code during the 88

Legislative Session.

Proposed Rules: §341.3. Qualifying Continuing Competence Activities - the amendments broaden the

category of residencies and fellowships by allowing completion of a residency or fellowship accredited by an

entity other than the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE) to

qualify for CCUs and requires the Board to maintain a list of approved residencies and fellowships.

Additionally, the amendments eliminate oPTion as a qualifying activity as the Federation of State Boards of

Physical Therapy (FSBPT) has discontinued the self-assessment tool.

The text of the adopted and proposed amendments is available online at https://ptot.texas.gov/act-and-

rules/, and the proposed amendments will appear in the December 1, 2023 edition of the Texas Register,

https://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/index.shtml, for public comment.

PAGE 3

Communiqué

Disciplinary Actions

PT Board Formal Disciplinary Actions taken at the October 13, 2023 Board Meeting:

1) Mario Bravomalo, PT #1067213 (Arlington) - failed to properly renew license by not completing a required

course prior to renewal. Violation of Section 453.351 of the Act and chapter 341 of the Board Rules. Board

Order required (30) hours of community service.

2) Richard Merta, PT #1023729 (San Antonio) - failed to properly renew license by not completing a required

course prior to renewal. Violation of Section 453.351 of the Act and chapter 341 of the Board Rules. Board

Order required (10) hours of community service.

3) Petros Coutinho, PTA #2104719 (Spring) - failed to properly renew license by not completing a required course

prior to renewal. Violation of Section 453.351 of the Act and chapter 341 of the Board Rules. Board Order

required (10) hours of community service.

4) Jessica Rummans, PTA #2127419 (Jermyn) - failed to properly renew license by not completing a required

course prior to renewal. Violation of Section 453.351 of the Act and chapter 341 of the Board Rules. Board

Order required (10) hours of community service.

5) Ravneet Singh, PTA #2043263 (Houston) - failed to properly renew license by not completing a required course

prior to renewal. Violation of Section 453.351 of the Act and chapter 341 of the Board Rules. Board Order

required (30) hours of community service.

6) Miguel Aguilar, PTA #2053176 (Midland) - failed to properly renew license by not completing a required course

prior to renewal. Violation of Section 453.351 of the Act and chapter 341 of the Board Rules. Board Order

required (45) hours of community service.

7) Crystal Murphy, PTA #2088639 (Hazelwood, MO) - failed to properly renew license by not completing a

required course and the required amount of continuing education prior to renewal. Violation of Section 453.351

of the Act and chapter 341 of the Board Rules. Board Order suspended license to practice for (30) days.

8) Cindy Pham, PT #1211748 (Houston) - (audit) failed to properly renew license by not completing a required

course during the audited renewal period. Violation of Section 453.351 of the Act and chapter 341 of the Board

Rules. Board Order required (10) hours of community service.

9) Jennifer Alexander, PTA #2066451 (Magnolia) - practiced with an expired license. Violation of Section 453.351

of the Act and chapter 322.4 of the Board Rules. Board Order required (30) hours of community service.

10) Raymond Holmes III, PTA #2104410 (Houston) - practiced with an expired license. Violation of Section 453.351

of the Act and chapter 322.4 of the Board Rules. Board Order required (30) hours of community service.

11) Karen Geddes, PT #1127637 (Fort Worth) - practiced with an expired license. Violation of Section 453.351 of

the Act and chapter 322.4 of the Board Rules. Board Order required (30) hours of community service.

12) Derek Castro, PTA #2161699 (San Antonio) - practiced with an expired license. Violation of Section 453.351 of

the Act and chapter 322.4 of the Board Rules. Board Order required (30) hours of community service.

Continued pg. 4

PAGE 4

Communiqué

Disciplinary Action, cont. from pg. 3

13) Travis Houser, PT #1253997 (Greenville) - practiced with an expired license. Violation of Section 453.351 of the

Act and chapter 322.4 of the Board Rules. Board Order required (30) hours of community service.

14) Jordan Shivers, PTA #2144048 (League City) - practiced with an expired license. Violation of Section 453.351 of

the Act and chapter 322.4 of the Board Rules. Board Order required (60) hours of community service.

15) John Nelson, PT #1048007 (Denison) - practiced with an expired license. Violation of Section 453.351 of the Act

and chapter 322.4 of the Board Rules. Board Order suspended license to practice for (60) days.

16) Charles Walthall, PTA #2174997 (Lakewood, CO) - failed to disclose criminal history on application for licensure.

Violation of Section 453.351 of the Act and chapter 343.6 of the Board Rules. Board Order suspended license to

practice for (15) days.

17) Anna Williams, PT #1378033 (Bandera) - failed to disclose criminal history on application for licensure. Violation

of Section 453.351 of the Act and chapter 343.6 of the Board Rules. Board Order suspended license to practice

for (15) days.

18) Natasha Hentz, PTA #2175344 (Denison) - failed to disclose criminal history and disciplinary action on application

for licensure. Violation of Section 453.351 of the Act and chapter 343.6 of the Board Rules. Board Order

suspended license to practice for (30) days.

19) Mihir Patel, PT #1284530 (McKinney) - practiced in a detrimental manner by failing to document physical therapy

services, inaccurately recording, falsifying, or altering patient/client records. Violation of Section 453.351 of the

Act and chapter 322.4 of the Board Rules. Board Order required (90) hours of community service.

20) Jacob Schultz, PTA #2114759 (North Richland Hills) - practiced in a detrimental manner by failing to document

physical therapy services, inaccurately recording, falsifying, or altering patient/client records. Violation of Section

453.351 of the Act and chapter 322.4 of the Board Rules. Board Order suspended license to practice for (15)

days.

21) Jake Hoelting, PT #1246359 (Fort Worth) - practiced in a detrimental manner by failing to document physical

therapy services, inaccurately recording, falsifying, or altering patient/client records. Violation of Section 453.351

of the Act and chapter 322.4 of the Board Rules. Board Order suspended license to practice for (30) days.

22) Kari Hughes, PTA #2060323 (Gladewater) - practiced in a detrimental manner by failing to document physical

therapy services, inaccurately recording, falsifying, or altering patient/client records. Violation of Section 453.351

of the Act and chapter 322.4 of the Board Rules. Board Order suspended license to practice for (45) days.

23) Cole Bruce, PTA #2096226 (Angleton) - practiced in a detrimental manner by failing to document physical therapy

services, inaccurately recording, falsifying, or altering patient/client records. Violation of Section 453.351 of the

Act and chapter 322.4 of the Board Rules. Board Order suspended license to practice for (60) days.

24) Sheila Sales, PTA #2090223 (Kyle) - practiced in a detrimental manner by failing to document physical therapy

services, inaccurately recording, falsifying, or altering patient/client records. Violation of Section 453.351 of the

Act and chapter 322.4 of the Board Rules. Board Order suspended license to practice for (60) days.

25) Vicente Vitug Jr., PT #1036531 (Mesquite) - practiced in a detrimental manner by failing to document physical

therapy services, inaccurately recording, falsifying, or altering patient/client records. Violation of Section 453.351

of the Act and chapter 322.4 of the Board Rules. Board Order accepted the surrender of license to practice.

Continued pg. 5

PAGE 5

Communiqué

Disciplinary Action, cont. from pg. 4

26) Marta Cisneros, PTA #2148263 (Laredo) - practiced in a detrimental manner by failing to document physical

therapy services, inaccurately recording, falsifying, or altering patient/client records; and, abandoning or

neglecting patient(s) under current care without making reasonable arrangements for the continuation of such

care. Violation of Section 453.351 of the Act and chapter 322.4 of the Board Rules. Board Order suspended license

to practice for (90) days.

27) Shaquala Price, PTA #2155619 (Houston) - practiced in a detrimental manner by abandoning or neglecting

patient(s) under current care without making reasonable arrangements for the continuation of such care and

failing to document therapy services. Violation of Section 453.351 of the Act and chapter 322.4 of the Board Rules.

Board Order suspended license to practice for (45) days.

28) Jake Strain, PT #1371999 (Tyler) - practiced in a detrimental manner by obtaining or attempting to obtain or deliver

medications through means of misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception and/or subterfuge in Oklahoma and

Kansas; and, failing to disclose the pending disciplinary action as a result. Violation of Section 453.351 of the Act

and chapter 322.4 of the Board Rules. Board Order required Licensee to random drug screen(s) at the Board’s

discretion for the next (36) months and refrain from practice in the home health environment (interminable).

29) Merle Lane, PTA #2003166 (Houston) - failed to comply with a previous Board Order by not completing the

provisions listed in the Order. Violation of Section 453.351 of the Act; chapter 322.4 of the Board Rules. Board

Order accepted the surrender of license to practice.

Upcoming PT Board Meetings

The following dates have been set for the Board’s upcoming quarterly meetings:

 January 26, 2024

 April 19, 2024

 July 19, 2024

Committee meetings will be scheduled prior to the Board meetings as needed.

Meeting dates are subject to change. Check for updated information online at:

https://www.ptot.texas.gov/meeting-dates

PAGE 6

Communiqué

License Expiration 12/31/2023

The Executive Council of Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy Examiners (ECPTOTE) will be closed

according to the Agency Holiday Schedule below.

If your PT or PTA license expires on December 31, 2023 do not wait until the last minute to renew. Online

renewals through Texas Online are not received and processed by ECPTOTE until the next business day.

Waiting until Friday, December 29

through Sunday, December 31

to renew your license could cause your

license not to appear as renewed through the online verification system until at least Tuesday, January

which will be the first business day after you renew your license online.

If you are renewing with a paper renewal form, allow sufficient time for delivery and processing prior to

Friday, December 29

to ensure timely renewal.

In order for you to continue providing physical therapy services, your license must show that it is current

through the online verification system at https://ptot.texas.gov/look-up-a-license/ whether you renew

online or mail a paper renewal form.

Agency Holiday Schedule

ECPTOTE will be closed for the upcoming holidays according to the schedule below:

Thanksgiving

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Thursday, November 23, 2023, and

Friday, November 24, 2023

Christmas

Monday, December 25, 2023

Tuesday, December 26, 2023

New Year

Monday, January 1, 2024