Intro to AT: History of AT

Describe an Athletic Trainer. What services do they provide.

Healthcare professional who work to provide treatment with and/or under a physician in accordance with their education, training, and state rules and regulations.

Provide injury and illness prevention, wellness education, emergency care, exams and clinical diagnosis, and injury rehab + therapeutic intervention

(Really mainly operate to rehab injuries)

When and where were the first appearance of athletic trainers in history

Greek and roman civilizations

Came into existence in the 19th century

Developed a line of liniments to treat ankle sprains, and followed the publication The First Aider

The Cramer brothers (1920’s, 1943)

History of NATA (National Athletic Training Society)

Came into existence in the 1930’s, disappeared during WWII

Officially formed in 1950 with the first conference in Kansas City, CO

Officially classified as an allied health profession by the AMA in 1990

1969

First AT curriculum officially recognized by NATA

1970

First national certification exam

1989

BOC became credentialing agency to oversee profession

2006

CAATE became accreditation agency

2025

Programs must be transitioned to Master’s level

James Robinson

First college AT at Harvard University, 1881

Chuck Kramer

Established Cramer products and was the financial backbone of AT. First executive secretary of NATA

Who was the first female athletic trainer? In what state? What did her dad do?

Kristine Freeman, Florida (1972)

Dad worked for Cramer

Pinky Newell

Father of modern AT

Two main areas under the sports medicine umbrella

Performance enhancement

Injury care & management

NATA goal and member count

To enhance the quality of health for athletes and everyone who does physical activity. Aim to enhance the profession of AT through evidence based research and patient care. Has over 50,000 members

BOC domains (roles and responsibilities of an AT)

Injury and illness prevention, wellness promotion

Clinical eval and diagnosis

Emergency care

Treatment and rehab

Organizationla and professional health

Professional responsibilities as an AT (other jobs)

AT as…

Educator

Continuing education

Counselor

Researcher (incorporates evidence based medicine)

NATA code of ethics

1. Respect the rights, welfare, and dignity of all individuals

2. Comply with laws and regulations governing practice of AT

3. Exercise sound judgement

4. Maintain and promote high standard of services

5. Not engage in conduct that constitutes a conflict of interest with AT

Why is evidence based practice important? What are the steps?

Patient care could be jeoparadized without it

Steps:

1. Develop clinical question (PICO)

2. Search literature (Use key words)

3. Appraise evidence

4. Apply evidence

5. Assess outcomes

What format is used to develop a clinical question in evidence based practice?

PICO (Patient, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome)

Personal qualities of an AT

Stamina and adaptability

Empathy

Sense of humor

Communication

Intellectual curiosity and critical thinking ability

Ethical practice

Professional memberships

Accredited program curriculum is a combo of…

Didactic (intention to teach)

Clinical experiences

Requirements to stay certified as an AT

50 CEU’s (Continuing education credits) over to years, 10 must be evidence based

CPR/AED certification

How are CEU’s awarded?

Attending workshops, seminars and synopsiums

Serving as a speaker/panelist

Certification exam writer

Authoring/editing a research article or textbook

Completing postgraduate work

How does AT apply to different US states

Rules and regulations vary state to state

They exist in 48 of the 50 states

What does AT licensure exist to do

Limits the practice and functions related to AT to those who meet the minimum requirement per state

Certification: can and cannot…

Can restrict performance of AT functions to only certified individuals

Can’t restrict the use of the title even if uncertified by the state

What must one do to practice athletic training in a state

They must register in that state and pay a fee

NPI

Unique 10 digit identification number used in standard health care transactions that is issued to health care professionals and “covered entities” that pass along standard HIPAA electronic transactions.

Fulfills a requirement of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)

Why should AT’s get an NPI?

To improve recognition of AT’s as health care professionals in all settings