CHAPTER 7

PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY

  Section 1. The Practice of an Athletic Trainer.  The practice of an Athletic Trainer consists of the application of the principles and methods of prevention, recognition, evaluation, and assessment of athletic injuries and illnesses, immediate care of athletic injuries including common injuries, medical emergencies, psychosocial intervention and referral, conditioning and rehabilitative exercise, nutritional aspects of injuries and illnesses, the use of therapeutic modalities, proper healthcare administration, professional development and understanding and education of application, precautions, interactions, and contraindications of pharmacology for athletes.

  Section 2. Ethical Standards.  The Board hereby incorporates into these rules by reference the following ethical standards:

  (a) The Code of Ethics and professional standards of the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA), adopted by NATA and effective September 2005, revised 2013, found at http://www.nata.org/sites/default/files/Code-of-Ethics_1.doc.

  (b) For the code of ethics and professional standards incorporated by reference:

    (i) The Board has determined that incorporation of the full text in these rules would be cumbersome or inefficient given the length or nature of the rules;

    (ii) The incorporation by reference does not include any later amendments or editions of the incorporated matter beyond the applicable date identified in this section; and

    (iii) The incorporated rules are maintained at the Board's office and is available for public inspection and copying at cost at the same location.

  Section 3. Where the Code of Ethics and Professional Standards of the NATA conflict with the Act and/or these rules, the Act and rules shall control.

  Section 4. Persons licensed by the Board shall:

  (a) Use the term "Licensed Athletic Trainer" and/or the initials L.A.T. only after the applicant is granted licensure by the Board.

  (b) Practice only under the direction of a physician licensed by the State of Wyoming Board of Medicine.

  (c) Practice in a manner that is in the best interest of the public and does not endanger the public health, safety or welfare.

  (d) Be able to justify all services rendered to clients as necessary for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.

  (e) Practice only within the competency areas for which they are trained and experienced. The licensee must be able to demonstrate to the Board competency, training, and/or expertise should their ability to practice in a specialty area be called into question.

  (f) Report to the Board known or suspected violations of the laws and regulations governing the practice of licensed professionals.

  (g) Treat colleagues with respect and should represent accurately and fairly the qualifications, views and obligations of colleagues.

  (h) Use only those educational credentials in association with their licensure and practice as a professional that have been earned at an educational institution accredited by one of the regional or national institutional accrediting bodies recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), and that are directly related to their licensed profession, and that are professional in nature, including, but not limited to M.Ed., M.A., M.S., Ph.D., and Ed.D., and shall include the designation of licensure as an LAT (Licensed Athletic Trainer).

    (i) Maintain accurate documentation of all professional services rendered to a client in confidential files for each client and ensure that client records are kept in a secure, safe, retrievable and legible condition.

    (i) Each client record must be retained for a minimum of seven (7) years from the date of the last session.

    (ii) Records of treatment provided to minor clients must be retained for a minimum of seven (7) years from the date of the last session, or until the client reaches twenty- five (25) years of age, whichever is longer.

    (iii) The licensee shall name a qualified person who will retain the client records and properly release the client records upon request.

  (j) Not practice, facilitate discrimination on the basis of race, sex, age, religion, nation origin, mental or physical handicap.

  (k) Clearly state the person's licensure status by the use of a title or initials such as "licensed athletic trainer" (L.A.T.) or a statement such as "licensed by the Wyoming State Board of Athletic Training" in any advertising, public directory or solicitation, including telephone directory listings.

  (l) Seek advice and counsel of colleagues and supervisors when such consultation is in the best interest of the client while taking care to protect the client's confidentiality.

  (m) Respond to all requests for information and all other correspondence from the Board.

  (n) Display their license or certification at all times in a conspicuous location readily accessible to all clients at the licensee's place of business.

  (o) Not permit, or facilitate unlicensed practice or any activity which is a violation of the Act or these rules and regulations.