Concepts of Athletic Training Chapter 2

1. Concepts of Athletic TrainingChapter 2 The Athletic Health Care Team

2. The cornerstone of optimal management of sports-and-activity-related injuries is the athletic health care team (ACHT). • Made up of a variety of highly trained medical and allied medical personnel • BOC certified athletic trainer • Medical physician director • Emergency medical services (EMS) • Who then work in concert with additional personal such as school nurses, medical specialist, dentists, counselors, and others

3. Critical functions of the AHCT were outlined in detail in a publication in the Journal of Athletic Training • Here they defined components necessary to provide medical care effectively in the secondary school setting (Almquist et al,. 2008) • Article included 11 specific functions of the AHCT necessary to ensure that “appropriate medical coverage” is provided • Development of a health care administrative system • Use of preparticipation physical examination • Promotion of safe facilities, ect… • Can reduce the likelihood of litigation associated with a sports-related injury

4. Due to time constraints and associated costs, not practical for a physician to be on campus 24/7 • Thus, a cost-effective option is to employ a BOC-certified athletic trainer • Serve as a “point person” in coordinating the day-to-day operation • AHCT should provide services such as • Preparticipation health screening • Development and implementation of an emergency action plan • Medical supervision of practice and games • Injury recognition and treatment • Implementation of age-appropriate and sports-specific injury prevention programs • Detailed record keeping • Education programs for coaches, athletes, and where appropriate, parents

5. What is Sports Medicine • Branch of medicine concerned with the medical aspects of sports participation • Members of the Sports Medicine Team: • BOC-Athletic Trainer • Orthopedic Surgeon • Primary Care Physicians • Osteopathic Physicians • Chiropractic Physicians • Sports Physical Therapist • Sport Massage Practitioners • Dentist • Sports Psychologist • Sports Nutritionist • Exercise Physiologist • Strength and Conditioning Coaches • In school, school nurses

6. Key Members of the Sports Medicine Team: • The Coach • Team Physician • BOC-certified Athletic Trainer

7. The Coach • Critical in the process of injury prevention • Function as “first responder” • Receive basic training in basic conditioning procedures • Maintenance and fitting of protective equipment • First aid and CPR • Operation of an automated external defibrillator (AED) • Recognition and management of common sports injuries • Teach correct technique of sports skills

8. Team Physician • Are medical doctors who agree to provide at least limited medical coverage to a particular sports program or institution • Can be pediatrician or orthopedic surgeon • Specific Services provided by the team physician • Coordinate preparticipation screening, examination, and evaluation • Manage injuries on the field • Provide for medical management of injury and illness • Coordinate rehabilitation and return to participation • Provide proper preparation for safe return to participation after an illness or injury • Provide for proper documentation and medical record keeping

9. Athletic Trainers (ATC) • Recognized allied health care professionals who complete a bachelor’s or master’s degree with extensive academic and clinical training in the broad area of care and prevention of sports injuries • BOC defines ATC’s as, “health care professionals, who are experts in” • Injury Prevention • Clinical evaluation and diagnosis • Immediate care • Treatment, rehabilitation, and reconditioning • Organization and administration • Professional responsibility

10. Professional Medical Organizations • National Athletic Trainer’s Association • The national professional membership association for the profession of athletic training in the US • Founded in 1950 • Board of Certification (BOC) Athletic Trainer • Qualifying to sit for, and then passing the BOC certification examination • All web based • Offered 5 times annually • Qualify to sit • Completed an educational program accredited as an entry-level program by Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) • Proof of current certification in emergency cardiac care (ECC)

11. Professional Settings for the practice of athletic training • College • Was confined to only college with an emphasis on caring for injuries in tackle football • Not until 1970s this changed • Sports Medicine Clinic • Grew during the 19890s • Staffed with orthopedic surgeon and allied health personnel, including athletic trainers and physical therapist • Patient population consist of high school, college and recreational athletes • Services include • Outpatient physical therapy, fitness evaluation and exercise prescription, lifestyle counseling, evaluation and treatment of injuries, and even sports medicine research (Weidner, 1988)

12. Hospital • Hospital-based sports medicine outpatient services • Industrial/Corporate • Major corporations have found it beneficial and profitable to employ ATC’s to provide direct services to their employees involved in on-site health and fitness programs or in the area or ergonomics • Professional • “Be the dream job” • Pro’s highly paid, marquee athletes • Con’s include tremendous pressure to win that is placed on the coaching staff that can, and often does, affect the sports medicine staff • Lack of job security associated with changes in coaching staff

13. The secondary school setting • The most cost-effective approach appears to be employing one individual as both teacher and athletic trainer • Can see athletes in afternoons or mornings prior to practice • Administrators find this option to be very affordable • Teacher/athletic trainer can be given a standard teaching contract and can provide educational services to the general student population • Less affordable but more effective option is for the school to hire a full-time athletic trainer • No formal teaching responsibilities at the school • Is responsible for implementing a comprehensive sports medicine program

14. Alternatives… • Part-time athletic trainer or a graduate student/athletic trainer if a university is near by • Contracting to provide in-service training on various aspects of services with a local sports medicine clinic • Using a substitute teacher/athletic trainer • May save the school money in the short term • Shortchange the student athletes with respect to the availability of sports medicine services

15. Indirect benefits to the school • Legal standpoint, school is less vulnerable to tort claims related to sports injuries • Offers many unique educational opportunities for the school • Teach classes in basic sports injury care, first aid and CPR, nutrition, and physical conditioning • Implement a student athletic trainer program • Provide educational opportunities for high school students interested in a career in sports medicine • May qualify for scholarships

16. The BOC-certified athletic trainer can provide a direct link between the injured athlete and the appropriate medical services