Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Health Care & Wellness Committee |
ESSB 5688
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Concerning athletic trainers.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Health & Long Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators Cleveland, Walsh and Becker).
Brief Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill |
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Hearing Date: 3/20/19
Staff: Kim Weidenaar (786-7120).
Background:
Athletic trainers.
Athletic trainers are licensed by the Department of Health to provide:
risk management and prevention of athletic injuries and recognition, evaluation, and assessment of athletic injuries;
immediate care of athletic injuries, including through the application of first-aid and emergency procedures;
treatment, rehabilitation, and reconditioning of athletic injuries in accordance with guidelines established with a licensed health care provider;
treatment, rehabilitation, and reconditioning of work-related injuries, under the direct supervision of and in accordance with a plan of care for an individual worker established by a provider authorized to provide physical medicine and rehabilitation services; and
referral of an athlete to an appropriately licensed health care provider if the athletic injury requires further definitive care or the injury or condition is outside an athletic trainer's scope of practice.
It is unlawful for any person to practice or offer to practice as an athletic trainer, or to represent themselves or other persons to be legally able to provide services as an athletic trainer, unless the person is licensed as an athletic trainer.
Epinephrine Autoinjectors.
An epinephrine autoinjector is a medical device used to deliver a single dose of epinephrine to avoid or treat the onset of anaphylactic shock resulting from an acute allergic reaction. Prescribing health care practitioners may prescribe epinephrine autoinjectors to entities or organizations where allergens capable of causing anaphylaxis may be present, such as restaurants, recreation camps, youth sports leagues, amusement parks, colleges, universities, and sports arenas. Employees of an entity or organization must complete a training program before they are able to administer an epinephrine autoinjector. The entity or organization and its employees are not liable for damages due to use of an epinephrine autoinjector so long as their acts do not constitute gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct. Incidents of use of an epinephrine autoinjector must be reported to the DOH and the DOH must publish an annual report that summarizes use of epinephrine autoinjectors by entities or organizations.
Summary of Bill:
No person may use the title "athletic trainer," the letters "ATC" or "LAT," the terms "sports trainer," "team trainer," or any other words, abbreviations, or insignia in connection with their name to indicate or imply, directly or indirectly, they are an athletic trainer without being licensed as an athletic trainer.
These restrictions do not restrict the actions of a personal or fitness trainer employed by an athletic club or fitness center if the personal or fitness trainer does not hold themselves out as an athletic trainer or perform the duties of an athletic trainer.
An athletic trainer may purchase, store, and administer over-the-counter medications such as pain relievers, hydrocortisone, fluocinonide, topical anesthetics, silver sulfadiazine, lidocaine, magnesium sulfate, zinc oxide, and other similar medications, as prescribed by an authorized health care practitioner for the practice of athletic training. An athletic trainer may not administer any medications to a student in a public or private school, but may administer over-the-counter medications to a minor in other settings with written consent from the minor's parent or guardian. Athletic trainers are added to the definition of practitioner for purposes of the legend drugs chapter, allowing athletic trainers to purchase and possess legend drugs allowed in their scope of practice.
An athletic trainer who has completed an anaphylaxis training program may administer an epinephrine autoinjector.
Athletic trainers must complete a one-time training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed, except for Section 5 relating to the one-time training on suicide assessment, which expires on August 1, 2020, and Section 6 relating to the one-time training on suicide assessment, which takes effect on August 1, 2020.