Section 25.702. Definitions

The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

Approved athletic training education programs—An athletic training education program that is accredited by a Board-approved Nationally recognized accrediting agency.

Athletic training services—The management and provision of care of injuries to a physically active person, with the direction of a licensed physician.

(i) The term includes the rendering of emergency care, development of injury prevention programs and providing appropriate preventative and supportive devices for the physically active person.

(ii) The term also includes the assessment, management, treatment, rehabilitation and reconditioning of the physically active person whose conditions are within the professional preparation and education of a licensed athletic trainer.

(iii) The term also includes the use of modalities such as: mechanical stimulation, heat, cold, light, air, water, electricity, sound, massage, and the use of therapeutic exercise, reconditioning exercise and fitness programs.

(iv) The term does not include surgery, invasive procedures or prescription of any medication or controlled substance.

BOC—The Board of Certification, Inc., a National credentialing organization for athletic trainers.

Direction—Supervision over the actions of a licensed athletic trainer by means of referral by prescription to treat conditions for a physically active person from a licensed physician, dentist or podiatrist or written protocol approved by a supervising physician, except that the physical presence of the supervising physician, dentist or podiatrist is not required if the supervising physician, dentist or podiatrist is readily available for consultation by direct communication, radio, telephone, facsimile, telecommunications or by other electronic means.

Licensed athletic trainer—A person who is licensed to perform athletic training services by the Board or the State Board of Medicine.

Physically active person—An individual who participates in organized, individual or team sports, athletic games or recreational sports activities.

Referral—An order from a licensed physician, dentist or podiatrist to a licensed athletic trainer for athletic training services. An order may be written or oral, except that an oral order must be reduced to writing within 72 hours of issuance.

Standing written prescription—A portion of the written protocol or a separate document from a supervising physician, which includes an order to treat approved individuals in accordance with the protocol.

Written protocol—A written agreement or other document developed in conjunction with one or more supervising physicians, which identifies and is signed by the supervising physician and the licensed athletic trainer, describes the manner and frequency in which the licensed athletic trainer regularly communicates with the supervising physician and includes standard operating procedures, developed in agreement with the supervising physician and licensed athletic trainer, which the licensed athletic trainer follows when not directly supervised onsite by the supervising physician.