Athletic Trainer and the Athlete Major concern on the part of the ATC should be the athlete All decisions impact the athlete The injured athlete must always be informed Be made aware of the how, when and why that dictates the course of injury rehabilitation

The athlete must be educated about injury prevention and management Instructions should be provided regarding training and conditioning Inform the athlete to listen to his/her body in order to prevent injuries

Athletic Trainer and Parents ATC must keep parents informed, particularly in the secondary school setting Injury management and prevention The parents decision regarding healthcare must be a primary consideration Insurance plans may dictate care Selection of physician

ATC, physician and coaches must be aware and inform parents of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Regulates dissemination of health information Protects patient’s privacy and limits the people who could gain access to medical records

Responsibilities of the Team Physician Athletic trainer works under direct supervision of physician Physician assumes a number of roles Serves to advise and supervise ATC Physician and ATC must be able to work together Have similar philosophical opinions regarding injury management Helps to minimize discrepancies and inconsistencies

Roles and Responsibilities Compiling medical histories and conducting physical exams Pre-participation screening Diagnosing injury Deciding on disqualifications Decisions regarding athlete’s ability to participate based on medical knowledge and psychophysiological demands of sport

Responsibilities of the Coach Must understand specific role of all individuals involved with the team Coach must clearly understand the limits of their ability to function as a healthcare provider in their respective state Directly responsible for injury prevention Athlete must go through appropriate conditioning program

Coach must be aware of risks associated with sport Provide appropriate training and equipment Must have knowledge of CPR and first aid Must have thorough knowledge of skills, techniques and environmental factors associated with sport Develop good working relationships with staff, including athletic trainers Must be a cooperative relationship

Referring the Athlete to Other Personnel ATC must be aware of available medical and non-medical personnel Athlete may require special treatment outside of the “traditional” sports medicine team Must be aware of community based services and various insurance plans Typically the ATC and team physician will consult on the particular matter and refer accordingly

The Players on the Sports Medicine Team Physicians Dentist Podiatrist Nurse Physicians Assistant Physical Therapist Athletic Trainer Massage Therapist Ophthalmologist Dermatologist Gynecologist Exercise Physiologist Biomechanist Nutritionist Sport Psychologist Coaches Strength & Conditioning Specialist Social Worker Neurologist Osteopath Psychiatrist