2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 47 | Occupations-Professions › Chapter 4731 | Physicians; Limited Practitioners › Section 4731.37 | Sonographer Delegation.

Effective:
October 3, 2023
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly
(A) As used in this section:
(1) "Physician" means an individual authorized under this chapter to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery.
(2) "Sonographer" means an individual who uses ultrasonic imaging devices to produce diagnostic images, scans, or videos or three-dimensional volumes of anatomical and diagnostic data.
(B) A physician may delegate to a sonographer the authority to administer intravenously an ultrasound enhancing agent if all of the following conditions are met:
(1) The physician's normal course of practice and expertise includes the intravenous administration of ultrasound enhancing agents.
(2) The facility where the physician practices has developed, in accordance with clinical standards and industry guidelines, standards for administering ultrasound enhancing agents intravenously and has included the facility's standards in a written practice protocol.
(3) The sonographer, as determined by the facility where the physician practices, satisfies all of the following:
(a) Has successfully completed an education and training program in sonography;
(b) Is certified or registered as a sonographer by another jurisdiction or a nationally recognized accrediting organization;
(c) Has successfully completed training in the intravenous administration of ultrasound enhancing agents that was provided in any of the following ways:
(i) As part of an education and training program in sonography;
(ii) As part of training provided to the sonographer by the physician who delegates to the sonographer the authority to administer intravenously an ultrasound enhancing agent;
(iii) As part of a training program developed and offered by the facility in which the physician practices.
(C) A sonographer may administer intravenously an ultrasound enhancing agent if all of the following conditions are met:
(1) In accordance with division (B) of this section, a physician delegates to the sonographer the authority to administer the agent.
(2) The sonographer administers the agent in accordance with the written practice protocol described in division (B) of this section.
(3) The delegating physician is physically present at the facility where the sonographer administers the agent.
Division (C)(3) of this section does not require the delegating physician to be in the same room as the sonographer when the sonographer administers the agent.
(D) This section does not prohibit any of the following from administering intravenously an ultrasound enhancing agent:
(1) An individual who is otherwise authorized by the Revised Code to administer intravenously an ultrasound enhancing agent, including a physician assistant licensed under Chapter 4730. of the Revised Code or a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse licensed under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code;
(2) An individual who meets all of the following conditions:
(a) Has successfully completed an education and training program in sonography;
(b) Has applied for certification or registration as a sonographer with another jurisdiction or a nationally recognized accrediting organization;
(c) Is awaiting that certification's or registration's issuance;
(d) Administers intravenously an ultrasound enhancing agent under the general supervision of a physician and the direct supervision of either a sonographer described in divisions (B) and (C) of this section or an individual otherwise authorized to administer intravenously ultrasound enhancing agents.
(3) An individual who is enrolled in an education and training program in sonography and, as part of the program, administers intravenously ultrasound enhancing agents.
(E) For purposes of this section, the authority to administer an ultrasound enhancing agent intravenously also includes the authority to insert, maintain, and remove any mechanism necessary for the agent's administration.
Last updated October 4, 2023 at 1:30 PM