Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 45, November 8, 2024
Section 16-5-8 - Scope of Practice for Athletic Trainers8.1. An athletic trainer may perform the following: 8.1.1. The practice of athletic training is defined as the application of principles, methods, and procedures for managing athletic injuries or conditions, which shall include the prevention, emergency care, clinical examination and assessment, therapeutic intervention, and treatment of athletic injuries or conditions through the use of appropriate preventative and support devices, and within the professional preparation and education of a licensed athletic trainer subject to the general supervision. Athletic training includes recognizing illness and referring to the appropriate health care professional and implementation of treatment pursuant to the orders of those professions listed under general supervision. Athletic training also includes instruction to coaches, athletes, parents, medical personnel, and communities in the area of care and prevention of athletic injuries or conditions.8.1.2. Engage in administration, consultation, and research.8.2. A licensee shall adhere to the standards of ethical practice as defined by the Board and practice in a manner that is moral and honorable.8.3. A licensee shall not cheat or assist others in conspiring to cheat on the Board approved national certifying examination.8.4. A licensee shall not falsify, alter, or destroy patient/client records, medical records, or billing records without authorization. The licensee shall maintain accurate patient and/or billing records.8.5. A licensee shall not practice athletic training while the ability to practice is impaired by alcohol, controlled substances, narcotic drugs, physical disability, mental disability, or emotional disability.8.6. A licensee shall adhere to the minimal standard of acceptable prevailing practice. Failure to adhere to the minimal standards of practice, whether or not actual injury to a patient occurred, includes, but is not limited to:8.6.1. Failing to assess and evaluate a patient's status;8.6.2. Performing or attempting to perform techniques, procedures, or both in which the licensee is untrained by education or experience;8.6.3. Delegating athletic training functions or responsibilities to an individual lacking the ability or knowledge to perform the functions or responsibility in question;8.6.4. Causing, or permitting another person to cause, physical or emotional injury to the patient, or depriving the patient of the individual's dignity;8.6.5. Providing treatment interventions that are not warranted by the patient's condition or continuing treatment beyond the point of reasonable benefit to the patient with the intent to defraud;8.6.6. Practicing in a pattern of negligent conduct, which means a continued course of negligent conduct or of negligent conduct in performing the duties of the profession;8.6.7. Abandoning the patient by inappropriately terminating the patient practitioner relationship by the licensee;8.6.8. Documenting or billing for services not actually provided; or documenting or billing services with the intent to defraud;8.6.9. A licensee shall not maliciously cause harm to another licensee;8.7. The scope of practice in this section does not include the practice of physical therapy, the practice of occupational therapy, the practice of medicine, the practice of osteopathic medicine, surgery, the practice of chiropractic, or the management of systemic medical or neurological conditions or diseases of body systems that are not within the professional preparation and education of a licensed athletic trainer.8.8. A licensee must report to the Board any discipline received in another jurisdiction within 30 days of that discipline. The Board reserves the right to discipline up to and including revocation of a license until disciplinary process in the other jurisdiction is completed. If the licensee fails to report discipline in another jurisdiction, they are subject to disciplinary procedures in our jurisdiction determined by the Board.