Section 3707.521 | Rules regarding assessment of athletes sustaining concussions or head injuries.

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• Effective: September 17, 2014
• Legislation: House Bill 487 - 130th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Chiropractor" means an individual licensed under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code.

(2) "License," "licensee," and "licensing agency" have the same meanings as in section 4745.01 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Licensed health care professional" means an individual, other than a physician, who is authorized under Title XLVII of the Revised Code to practice a health care profession.

(4) "Physician" means an individual authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery.

(5) "Youth sports organization" has the same meaning as in section 3707.51 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1) The director of health shall establish a committee regarding concussions and head injuries sustained by athletes while participating in interscholastic athletic events and athletic activities organized by youth sports organizations and the provisions of sections 3313.539 and 3707.511 of the Revised Code. The department of health shall provide administrative support to the committee.

(2) The director shall serve as a member of the committee and shall appoint all of the following as the remaining members, each of whom must have substantial experience in the diagnosis and treatment of concussions and head injuries:

(a) A representative of the state medical board;

(b) A physician who practices as a neurologist;

(c) A physician who practices sports medicine;

(d) A representative of the state chiropractic board;

(e) A chiropractor who has a background in neurology;

(f) A chiropractor who practices sports medicine.

(C) Not later than one hundred eighty days after the effective date of this section, the committee shall develop and publish guidelines addressing all of the following with regard to athletes exhibiting signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with having sustained a concussion or head injury while participating in an interscholastic athletic event or an athletic activity organized by a youth sports organization:

(1) The diagnosis and treatment of concussions and head injuries;

(2) The conditions under which an athlete may be granted clearance to return to practice or competition under section 3313.539 or 3707.511 of the Revised Code;

(3) The minimum education requirements necessary to qualify a physician or licensed health care professional to assess and clear an athlete for return to practice or competition under section 3313.539 or 3707.511 of the Revised Code.

(D) In developing guidelines under division (C) of this section, the committee shall consider nationally recognized standards for the treatment and care of concussions and head injuries and the scope of practice of any licensed health care professional as it relates to qualifications to assess and clear an athlete for return to practice or competition under section 3313.539 or 3707.511 of the Revised Code. The director shall solicit input from all of the following:

(1) A physician certified by the American board of emergency medicine or American osteopathic board of emergency medicine who actively practices emergency medicine and is actively involved in emergency medical services;

(2) A physician certified in pediatric emergency medicine by the American board of pediatrics, American osteopathic board of pediatrics, or American board of emergency medicine who actively practices pediatric emergency medicine and is actively involved in emergency medical services;

(3) A physician certified by the American board of neurological surgery or American osteopathic board of surgery who actively practices neurosurgery;

(4) A physician who actively practices in the field of sports medicine;

(5) An athletic trainer licensed under Chapter 4755. of the Revised Code;

(6) A physical therapist licensed under Chapter 4755. of the Revised Code;

(7) A chiropractor;

(8) A registered nurse licensed under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code who actively practices emergency nursing and is actively involved in emergency medical services;

(9) A representative of a youth sports organization;

(10) A representative of a school district board of education or governing authority of a chartered or nonchartered nonpublic school;

(11) Any other individual selected by the committee who has interests that the committee considers relevant to its duties.

(E) If a licensing agency responsible for the licensing of physicians or licensed health care professionals seeks to have its licensees authorized to assess and clear athletes for return to practice or competition under section 3313.539 or 3707.511 of the Revised Code, the licensing agency shall adopt rules establishing standards that are equal to or stronger than the guidelines developed by the committee under division (C) of this section.

The licensing agency may adopt rules establishing continuing education requirements for its licensees who assess and clear athletes for return to practice or competition under section 3313.539 or 3707.511 of the Revised Code.

Any rules adopted under this division shall be adopted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

Available Versions of this Section

• September 17, 2014 – House Bill 487 - 130th General Assembly
• December 19, 2016 – House Bill 471 - 131st General Assembly