Rhode Island § 5-60-2 - Athletic Trainers

§ 5-60-2. Definitions.

As used in this chapter:

(1) “Athletic trainer” means a person with the specific qualifications established in § 5-60-10 who, upon the direction of his or her team physician and/or consulting physician, carries out the practice of athletic training to athletic injuries incurred by athletes in preparation of, or participation in, an athletic program being conducted by an educational institution under the jurisdiction of an interscholastic or intercollegiate governing body, a professional athletic organization, or a board-sanctioned amateur athletic organization; provided, that no athlete shall receive athletic training services if classified as geriatric by the consulting physician. No athlete shall receive athletic training services if non-athletic or age-related conditions exist or develop that render the individual debilitated or non-athletic. To carry out these functions, the athletic trainer is authorized to utilize modalities such as heat, light, sound, cold, electricity, exercise, or mechanical devices related to care and reconditioning. The athletic trainer, as defined in this chapter, shall not represent himself or herself, or allow an employer to represent him or her to be, any other classification of healthcare professional governed by a separate and distinct practice act. This includes billing for services outside of the athletic trainer’s scope of practice, including, but not limited to, services labeled as physical therapy.

(2) “Board” means the Rhode Island board of athletic trainers established under § 5-60-4.

(3) “Department of health” means the department of state under which the board of athletic trainers is listed.

(4) “Director” means the director or state official in charge of the department of health.