Health Care Careers Sports Medicine

What is Sports Medicine?  Health & special services that prevent, recognize, manage and rehabilitate injuries related to exercise and sports

Medical Professionals  Sports medicine teams consist of Athletic Trainers (ATC), Physical Therapist (PT), Nurses (RN), Doctors (MD), Dentists (DMD), Phys. Assist (PA)

Athletic Training Education  Athletic Trainers- Must complete 1000 hour internship  Usually work in high school, college, professional team settings  Four year degree, state registration, exam

Nursing Education  Nurses- Must complete a series of medical competencies  Usually work in clinic/hospital settings  Four year degree, state registration, exam

Physical Therapist Education  Physical Therapists must complete a series of competencies  Usually work in clinic, hospital, professional team settings  Four year degree,three year masters degree, state license, exam

Physician Assistant Education  PAs must complete a series of competencies  Pick an area of specialization  Usually work in clinic, hospital settings  Four year degree,three year masters degree, state license, exam

Dentist Education  Dentists must complete a residency, internship  Usually work in clinic settings  Four year degree, three year masters degree, state license, exam

Medical Doctor Education  MDs must complete a series of competencies  Select an area of specialization  Usually work in clinic, hospital, professional team settings  Four year degree,three year medical degree, three+ year residency, state license, exam

Become an ATC  A degree from an accredited Athletic Training Education Program will provide you with knowledge and skills in the domains of Athletic Training.

Domains of Athletic Training  Risk Management and Injury Prevention  Pathology of Injury and Illnesses  Assessment and Evaluation  Acute care of Injury and Illness  Pharmacology  Therapeutic Exercise  Therapeutic Modalities  General Medicine Conditions and Disabilities  Nutritional Aspects of Illness and Injury  Psychosocial Intervention and Referral  Health Care Administration  Professional Development and Responsibility

Become an ATC  Upon graduation from an accredited Athletic Training Education Program, the student is eligible to sit for a national certification offered through the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Board of Certification.

Employment Opportunities  High School  Professional Sports  College/University  Corporate/Industrial  Clinic/Hospital  Physician Extender  Other

Employment Opportunities  Many opportunities in various settings  Be open minded!  Current new-grad job placement results  20% take jobs in clinics  10% in colleges and high schools  < 2% with professional sport teams  Remainder either continue education or go into non-AT related field

Employment Opportunities  High schools  Some are full-time; others serve in a dual capacity, as athletic trainer and teacher Teaching credential will help, not always necessary  Increased salary with increased education (Master ’ s degree)  Some school systems contract with a sports medicine or physical therapy clinic that employs athletic trainers  Salary typically in high 20’s to low to mid 30 ’ s (starting)

High School ATC  Education: Bachelor’s degree, teaching certificate if a teacher/trainer  Salary: Typically paid an initial teacher’s salary: $30,000  Duties: Teaching if applicable, provide care for all student athletes utilizing all the domains of Athletic Training  Staffing: 1-2 ATC’s per high school

Employment Opportunities  Pro sports  NOT a progression  Difficult to obtain  Fewer athletic trainers are employed in this setting than in the other settings  Some professional teams employ students or other certified athletic trainers during camps  Some professional sports, such as tennis, golf, and even rodeo, hire certified athletic trainers to provide evaluation and treatment at major events  Salary ranges from 0-millions, depending on team, sport, and level

Professional Sports  Education: Bachelors and/or Masters  Salaries: Varies from sport to sport and franchise to franchise (minor league = minor salary )  Duties: All domains of Athletic Training  Staffing: NFL 3-4 F/T ATC’s + interns, MLB 2-3 F/T ATC’s, NBA 2 F/T ATC’s, NHL 2 F/T ATC’s, WNBA 1- 2 ATC’s, PBR

Professional Sports ATC 2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Intern and Assistant Athletic Trainers

Professional Sports ATC

Professional Sport ATC NHL Hockey ATC NASCAR ATC

Employment Opportunities  College/University  Clinical positions Undergraduate degree in AT PLUS graduate assistantship & master ’ s degree Salary in low 20 ’ s and up, DOE  Teaching/research positions Doctoral degree plus experience Salary in the mid 30 ’ s to mid 50 ’ s depending upon institution & position

Employment Opportunities  College/university  Graduate assistant/interns Need bachelor ’ s degree plus certification Benefit package usually includes graduate tuition plus nominal stipend ($5000-$10,000 per year)

College/University ATC

Corporate/Industrial ATC’s  Education: Bachelor’s required, most have a Masters. Additional training: Strength and Conditioning Specialist, HazMat Training, or Ergonomics Specialist  Salary: $44,000 (experienced)  Duties: All Domains of Athletic Training: Emphasis may be on Rehabilitation, Administration, and Conditioning  May depend on hrs facility is open, 1-2 ATC’s

Industrial ATC Fitness Education Ergonomic Education

Clinic/Hospital  Education: Bachelor’s  Salary: varies inpatient/outreach $31,000- $44,000 (NATA, 2003)  Duties: May provide inpatient care, outreach only, or ½ inpatient and ½ outreach  Staffing: Outreach: 1 ATC/1 site or 1 ATC/ 2 or more sites

Clinical ATC

Physician Extender  Education: Bachelors/Masters  Salary: $36,000 (NATA, 2003)  Duties: Work alongside a physician and provide evaluation and rehabilitation to patients in the physicians office in addition to casting and even assisting in surgery  Staffing: varies, 1 ATC/1 MD or 1 ATC/group of physicians

Physician Extender ATC NATA Physician Extender Brochure, 2003

Athletic Training as a Profession  Skill-based theoretical knowledge  Involves the skill of evaluating a patient’s problem  Evaluation is based on theoretical knowledge—knowledge drawn from sound scientific information  Strong research emphasis

Athletic Training as a Profession  Certification  A person must pass a national certification exam, which includes the following: Written questions Skills application questions Scenario questions Now completely on-line through ACT testing centers  Maintenance of BOC certification Continuing education units Three-year cycle BOC Standards of Professional Practice

Athletic Training as a Profession  Code of ethics  NATA has a well-established code of ethics The code was written by athletic trainers and is enforced by fellow members of the organization The NATA code of ethics includes a system of evaluating infractions, which may result in the loss of certification privileges  Public good  Broadening focus into workplace and industrial settings, expanding role in physical therapy service, maintaining strong base in school and professional athletic programs

Athletic Training as a Profession  Organization  NATA governmental structure Ten districts Reporting structure: State organizations report to the district level, and district organizations report to the national level Research, scholarship programs, educational programs, and a multitude of committees operate throughout the various levels in the NATA

Athletic Training as a Profession  Specialization within the field of sports medicine responsible for the direct administration of injury prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation  Certification obtained through Board of Certification (BOC)  Licensure & registration varies by state

Athletic Training as Profession  Be careful with using the term “trainer”  In Europe, “trainer” is synonymous w/ coach  Others: Personal Boxers Dogs Horses

The Field of Sports Medicine  May include athletic training, biomechanics, exercise physiology, the practice of medicine (including numerous surgical specialties), physical therapy, sports nutrition, and sports psychology

The Sports Medicine Team Athletic Trainer Athlete Physician Coach

The Sports Medicine Team Athletic Trainer Athlete Physician Coach

The Team Physician  Medical histories / pre-participation physical examinations  Diagnosing injury and/or illness  Disqualification decisions

The Coach  Directly responsible for preventing injury  Equipment  Technique & common sources of injury  Conditioning  First aid and CPR training

Other Members of the Team  Podiatrist  Physician ’ s assistant  Biomechanist  Massage therapist  Exercise physiologist  RD or nutritional specialist  Equipment staff  Referees and umpires  Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)  Sport psychologist  Physical therapist (PT)