Rule 5123-6-05 | Qualifications and training of developmental disabilities personnel to activate a vagus nerve stimulator; administer prescribed epinephrine either by autoinjector or intranasally; and administer topical over-the-counter medication for the purpose of cleaning, protecting, or comforting the skin, hair, nails, teeth, or oral surfaces.
(A) Purpose
This rule establishes requirements for developmental disabilities personnel to activate a vagus nerve stimulator; administer prescribed epinephrine either by autoinjector or intranasally; and administer topical over-the-counter medication for the purpose of cleaning, protecting, or comforting the skin, hair, nails, teeth, or oral surfaces.
(B) Basic requirements
(1) To be eligible to receive the training described in this rule, developmental disabilities personnel must be able to read, write, and understand English at a level sufficient to comply with all requirements set forth in administrative rules governing the services provided.
(2) Only a licensed nurse or developmental disabilities personnel with current health-related activities and prescribed medication administration certification in accordance with rule 5123-6-06 of the Administrative Code may provide the training described in this rule.
(C) Qualifications for developmental disabilities personnel to activate a vagus nerve stimulator
(1) Developmental disabilities personnel will complete department-approved training prior to activating a vagus nerve stimulator and at least annually thereafter that includes:
(a) Signs and symptoms of seizure;
(b) Seizure first aid;
(c) Correct care and use of the stimulator magnet;
(d) Ensuring availability of the stimulator magnet at all times;
(e) Reporting potential side effects and seizure-related problems to a healthcare professional; and
(f) Documentation of seizure activity and stimulator magnet use.
(2) Developmental disabilities personnel will demonstrate the skills and information on the department-approved skills checklist prior to activation of a vagus nerve stimulator and annually thereafter.
(3) Developmental disabilities personnel will complete individual-specific training about an individual for whom the developmental disabilities personnel are going to activate a vagus nerve stimulator, including individual-specific indications for use of the stimulator magnet, seizure first aid, and the information on the individual-specific training guidelines for an individual with an implanted vagus nerve stimulator prior to activating a vagus nerve stimulator for that individual.
(D) Qualifications for developmental disabilities personnel to administer prescribed epinephrine either by autoinjector or intranasally for urgent or emergency treatment of allergic reaction and anaphylaxis
(1) Developmental disabilities personnel will complete department-approved training prior to administering prescribed epinephrine either by autoinjector or intranasally for urgent or emergency treatment of allergic reaction and anaphylaxis and at least annually thereafter that includes:
(a) Signs and symptoms of allergic reaction;
(b) Correct care and use of the epinephrine autoinjector and epinephrine nasal spray;
(c) Ensuring availability of the epinephrine autoinjector and epinephrine nasal spray at all times;
(d) Medical follow-up after use of an epinephrine autoinjector or epinephrine nasal spray; and
(e) Documentation of major unusual incidents and unusual incidents involving use of an epinephrine autoinjector or epinephrine nasal spray in accordance with rule 5123-17-02 of the Administrative Code.
(2) Developmental disabilities personnel will demonstrate the skills and information on the department-approved skills checklist prior to administering prescribed epinephrine either by autoinjector and intranasally and annually thereafter.
(3) Developmental disabilities personnel will complete individual-specific training about an individual for whom the developmental disabilities personnel are going to administer prescribed epinephrine either by autoinjector or intranasally, including individual-specific indications for known allergens and symptoms associated with personal history of allergic reactions and the information on the individual-specific training guidelines for an individual who has been prescribed an epinephrine autoinjector or epinephrine nasal spray prior to administering prescribed epinephrine to that individual.
(4) Developmental disabilities personnel who have documentation of having received training in the use of an epinephrine autoinjector or epinephrine nasal spray as part of another recognized certification training (such as "American Red Cross" first aid) may use an epinephrine autoinjector or epinephrine nasal spray according to that certification while that certification is in effect without the training specified in paragraph (D)(1) of this rule.
(E) Qualifications for developmental disabilities personnel to administer topical over-the-counter medication for the purpose of cleaning, protecting, or comforting the skin, hair, nails, teeth, or oral surfaces
(1) Developmental disabilities personnel will complete department-approved training prior to administering topical over-the-counter medication for the purpose of cleaning, protecting, or comforting the skin, hair, nails, teeth, or oral surfaces and at least annually thereafter that includes:
(a) That topical over-the-counter medication is not to be applied to an open wound;
(b) That topical over-the-counter medication is not to be applied for specific treatment of a condition that requires a medical diagnosis including but not limited to, fungal infection;
(c) That an individual's known allergies must be confirmed as not present in the topical over-the-counter medication each time before the topical over-the-counter medication is administered;
(d) That the manufacturer's label directions for amount and frequency must be followed unless a prescription to administer at an alternate amount or frequency has been provided by a licensed health professional authorized to prescribe drugs;
(e) That over-the-counter medication for oral consumption requires a prescription from a licensed health professional authorized to prescribe drugs and will only be administered by developmental disabilities personnel with health-related activities and prescribed medication administration certification in accordance with rule 5123-6-06 of Administrative Code and section 5123.42 of the Revised Code;
(f) That topical over-the-counter medication for any purpose other than cleaning, protecting, or comforting the skin, hair, nails, teeth, or oral surfaces may be applied only by developmental disabilities personnel with health-related activities and prescribed medication administration certification in accordance with rule 5123-6-06 of Administrative Code and section 5123.42 of the Revised Code; and
(g) Appropriate documentation of the use of topical over-the-counter medication for the purpose of cleaning, protecting, or comforting the skin, hair, nails, teeth, or oral surfaces.
(2) Developmental disabilities personnel will demonstrate the skills and information on the department-approved skills checklist prior to administration of topical over-the-counter medication and annually thereafter.
(3) Developmental disabilities personnel will complete individual-specific training about an individual for whom the developmental disabilities personnel are going to administer topical over-the-counter medication including individual-specific allergies and history of the use of topical over-the-counter medication for the purpose of cleaning, protecting, or comforting the skin, hair, nails, teeth, or oral surfaces and the information on the individual-specific training guidelines for an individual for whom developmental disabilities personnel will be administering topical over-the-counter medication without a prescription prior to administering topical over-the-counter medication to that individual.
Last updated August 17, 2026 at 9:08 AM
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