Source: State Medical Board of Ohio
On October 27, Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 176 into law. A provision in this bill grants athletic trainers the ability to enter into a collaboration agreement with a physician or podiatrist. The new provisions only apply to athletic trainers that are working under a collaboration agreement. The scope of practice for athletic trainers that have not entered into a collaboration agreement remains unchanged. This new law goes into effect Tuesday, January 25, 2022.
- Prevention, examination, and athletic training diagnosis of injuries or emergent conditions resulting from physical activities that require physical skill and utilize strength, power, endurance, speed, flexibility, range of motion, or agility.
- Complete management, treatment, disposition, and reconditioning of acute athletic injuries including injuries or emergent conditions resulting from physical activities.
- Provision of emergent care, therapeutic interventions, and rehabilitation for injuries or emergent conditions resulting from physical activities.
- Promotion of and education about wellness.
- The administration of drugs, including topical drugs, that have been prescribed by a licensed health care professional authorized to prescribe drugs and are administered under the prescriber’s direction. Please note that athletic trainers are prohibited from administering intra-articular and intratendinous injections.
- Performance of athletic training research.
- Organization and administration of educational programs and athletic training facilities.
- Education of and consulting with the public as it pertains to athletic training.
The agreement must be in writing and signed by the athletic trainer and each physician or podiatrist with whom the athletic trainer collaborates.
The athletic trainer and each collaborating physician or podiatrist are responsible for keeping a copy of the signed agreement in their records.
- The duties and responsibilities to be fulfilled by the athletic trainer when engaging in the allowed activities
- Any limitations on the athletic trainer’s performance of allowed activities
- A plan of care for patients treated by the athletic trainer.
Collaboration agreements will be under the purview of the Ohio Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Trainers Board, although failure of a physician or podiatrist to fulfill the responsibilities of a collaboration agreement with an athletic trainer could be grounds for disciplinary action by the State Medical Board of Ohio.