The Athletic Trainer Charged with injury prevention and health care provision for the athlete Athletic trainer deals with the athlete and injury from its inception until the athlete returns to full competition

Roles and Responsibilities: Performance Domains Prevention of athletic injuries Clinical evaluation and diagnosis Immediate care of injuries Treatment, rehabilitation and reconditioning of athletic injuries Health care administration Professional responsibilities

Athletic Training Education Competencies Twelve Content Areas Risk management Pathology of injuries and illnesses Assessment and evaluation Acute care Pharmacological aspects of injury and illness Therapeutic modalities

Athletic Training Education Competencies Therapeutic exercise General medical conditions and disabilities Nutritional aspects of injury and illnesses Psychosocial intervention and referral Organization and administration Professional responsibilities

Personal Qualities of the Athletic Trainer Stamina and the ability to adapt Empathy Sense of humor Communication Intellectual curiosity Ethical practice

Employment Settings for the Athletic Trainer Employment opportunities are becoming increasingly diverse Dramatic transformation since 1950 Due largely in part to the efforts of the NATA Started out primarily in the collegiate setting, progressed to high schools and are now found primarily in hospital and clinic settings

Settings include: Secondary schools Colleges and universities Professional teams Sports medicine clinics Corporate/Industrial settings Military Physician extenders Medical supply & equipment sales Research Administration

Accredited Athletic Training Education Programs Entry-level athletic training education programs Undergraduate and graduate Advanced graduate athletic training education programs Designed for individuals that are already certified ATC’s

Specialty Certifications NATA is in the process of developing specialty certifications Further enhance professional development Aid in expanding scope of practice Specialty certifications build on entry level knowledge

Seven proposed areas Business practice, medical care management, occupational health, wellness, pediatric/adolescent health, adult/geriatric health, special health populations Candidates will have to complete experiential requirements and pass a standardized examination

Requirements for Certification as an Athletic Trainer Must have extensive background in formal academic preparation and supervised practical experience Guidelines are set by the Board of Certification (BOC) Graduation from an accredited AT Program is required (CAATE)

BOC certification is a prerequisite for licensure in most states Upon meeting the educational guidelines applicants are eligible to sit for the examination Upon passing the certification examination = BOC certification as an athletic trainer Credential of ATC BOC certification is a prerequisite for licensure in most states

Continuing Education Requirements Ensure ongoing professional growth and involvement Requirements that must be met to remain certified 80 CEU’s over the course of three years

Purpose: To encourage ATC to obtain current professional development information To explore new knowledge in specific areas To master new athletic training related skill and techniques To expand approaches to effective athletic training To further develop professional judgement To conduct professional practice in an ethical and appropriate manner

CEU’s are awarded for: Attending symposiums, workshops, seminars Serving as a speaker or panelist Certification exam model Participating in the USOC program Authoring a research article; authoring/editing a textbook Completing post-graduate work Obtaining CPR and first aid certification

State Regulation of the Athletic Trainer During the early-1970s NATA realized the necessity of obtaining some type of official recognition by other medical allied health organizations of the athletic trainer as a health care professional Laws and statutes specifically governing the practice of athletic training were nonexistent in virtually every state

Athletic trainers in many individual states organized efforts to secure recognition by seeking some type of regulation of the athletic trainer by state licensing agencies To date 49 of the 50 states have enacted some type of regulatory statute governing the practice of athletic training Rules and regulations governing the practice of athletic training vary tremendously from state to state

Regulation may be in the form of: Licensure Limits practice of athletic training to those who have met minimal requirements established by a state licensing board Limits the number of individuals who can perform functions related to athletic training as dictated by the practice act Most restrictive of all forms of regulation

Certification Registration Does not restrict using the title of athletic trainer to those certified by the state Can restrict performance of athletic training functions to only those individuals who are certified Registration Before an individual can practice athletic training he or she must register in that state Individual has paid a fee for being placed on an existing list of practitioners but says nothing about competency

Exemption State recognizes that an athletic trainer performs similar functions to other licensed professions (e.g. physical therapy), yet still allows them to practice athletic training despite the fact that they do not comply with the practice acts of other regulated professions Legislation regulating the practice of athletic training has been positive and to some extent protects the athletic trainer from litigation

Future Directions for the Athletic Trainer Will be determined by the efforts of the NATA and its membership Ongoing re-evaluation, revision and reform of athletic training education JRC-AT will become an accrediting agency Third party billing will gradually become the rule not the exception for ATC’s Standardization of state practice acts ATC’s will seek specialty certifications Expanding breadth and scope of practice

Increase in secondary school employment of ATC’s Increase in recognition of ATC as a physician extender Potential for expansion in the military, industry, and fitness/wellness settings With general population aging = increased opportunity to work with aging physically active individuals Continue to enhance visibility through research and scholarly publication

Continue to be available for local and community meetings to discuss healthcare of the athlete Increase recognition and presence internationally Most importantly, continue to focus efforts on injury prevention and to provided high quality healthcare to physically active individuals who are injured while participating in sport