Delaware Code Title 24. Professions and Occupations § 502. Definitions

(1) “Board” shall mean the State Board of Podiatry established in this chapter.

(2) “Diagnosis” shall mean the ascertainment of a disease or ailment by its general symptoms.

(3) “Division” shall mean the State Division of Professional Regulation.

(4) “Electrical treatment” shall mean the administration of electricity to the foot and ankle by means of electrodes, machinery, rays and the like.

(5) “Electronic prescription” means a prescription that is generated on an electronic application and transmitted as an electronic data file.

(6) “Excessive use or abuse of drugs” shall mean any use of narcotics, controlled substances or illegal drugs without a prescription from a licensed physician or the abuse of alcoholic beverages such that it impairs a person's ability to perform the work of a podiatrist.

(7) “Housing status” means as defined in § 204 of Title 19.

(8) “Manipulative treatment” shall mean the use of the hand or machinery in the operation of or working upon the foot and its articulations.

(9) “Mechanical treatment” shall mean the application of any mechanical appliance made of steel, leather, felt or any material to the foot or the shoe for the purpose of treating any disease, deformity or ailment.

(10) “Medical treatment” shall mean the application to or prescription for the foot and ankle of medicine, pads, adhesives, felt, plasters or any medicinal agency.

(11) “Podiatrist” shall mean a person who is qualified to practice podiatry and is licensed under this chapter.

(12) “Practice of podiatry” shall mean the diagnosis and the medical, surgical, mechanical, manipulative and electrical treatment of all ailments of the foot and ankle.  As appropriate in regulation, these services may be performed with the use of telemedicine.  Podiatry may also include participation in telehealth, as further defined in regulation.  Amputation of the foot shall be restricted to state-licensed podiatrists who have completed an American Podiatric Medical Association accredited surgical residency program acceptable to the Board and have current amputation privileges, or have fulfilled the credentialing criteria of the surgical committee of the Joint Committee on Accreditation of Hospitals accredited hospital where the amputation is to be performed.

(13) “Protective hairstyle” includes braids, locks, and twists.

(14) “Race” includes traits historically associated with race, including hair texture and a protective hairstyle.

(15) “State” shall mean the State of Delaware.

(16) ‘‘Substantially related” means the nature of the criminal conduct, for which the person was convicted, has a direct bearing on the fitness or ability to perform 1 or more of the duties or responsibilities necessarily related to podiatry.

(17) “Surgical treatment” shall mean the use of any cutting instrument to treat a disease, ailment or condition.