Sports Med - Careers & Legal Vocab

Athlete’s Circle of Care

all individuals involved in care of the athlete; may include coaches, parents, certified athletic trainer, family physician, school nurse, massage therapist, sports psychologist, physical therapist, nutritionist, personal trainers, and chiropractor.

Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC)

a professional who has attained a standard level of competence in the field of athletic training; involved in the prevention, recognition, evaluation, and rehabitation of injuries

Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist

a specialist who designs and implements safe, effective strength and conditioning programs

Chiropractor

a health care specialist who provides conservative management of neuro-musculoskeletal disorders and functional clinical conditions 

Kinesiologist

utilizes muscle tests to maximize how the body functions as a whole; helps treat patients for pain

Physical Therapist

a healthcare specialist who is responsible for performing treatments that will help heal and strengthen musculoskeletal injuries; they have training in therapeutic exercises, hydrotherapy, and electrotherapy; and perform procedures dealing with individual muscles and muscular movement

Orthopedic Surgeon

doctors who specialize in diagnosing and repairing diseases and disorders of the musculoskeletal system

Exercise Physiologist

perform fitness tests and design exercise programs for patients to meet their health and fitness goals; may focus on body composition, cardiovascular function, etc. 

Sports Medicine

the study and application of scientific and medical knowledge to aspect of exercise and injury prevention

Sports Nutritionist

a health care specialist who designs special diets with the 

goal of enhancing athletic performance

Sports Psychologist

a specialist who works with athletes to recover from 

serious injury through emotional support, and also assists in goal setting and motivation. 

Team Physician

a physician who specializes in sports medicine and helps the 

athlete maximize function and minimize time away from sports, work, or school; works in cooperation with the family physician.

Allied Health Profession

any area of healthcare that contributes to or assists the professions of physical medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, and podiatry.

Athlete’s Bill of Rights

 Policies and standards for fair treatment of athletes

Title IX

Federal legislation that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex as to participation in athletics in schools receiving federal funds

Assumption of Risk

states that by certain actions, a person assumes certain risks. For example, by riding on the back of someone else's motorcycle, an individual has assumed the risk of a crash and should not be able to sue the driver should a crash occur. 

Battery

The crime of unconsented physical contact with another person, even where the contact is not violent but merely menacing or offensive

Commission

initiating a course of action. 

Omission

something left neglected or left undone; doing nothing. 

Failure to Warn

failure to warn or risk following medical mishaps when an inherent risk in a medical procedure has manifested itself resulting in injury

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

set of federal regulations adopted to protect the confidentiality of patient information and the ability to retain health insurance coverage. (know what the letters stand for) 

Informed Consent

permission granted voluntarily by a person who is of sound mind and aware of all factors involved; ensuring a person knows the risks and benefits of a medical procedure and can make a decision based on that info

Liability

a legal or financial responsibility

Malpractice

providing improper or unprofessional treatment or care that results in injury to another person

Negligence

four things required to prove this are duty of care, breach of duty, damage or injury, and proximal cause

Standard of Care

the level at which the average, prudent provider in a given community would practice

Statute of Limitations

the maximum time after an event when legal proceedings may be initiated 

Good Samaritan Law

offers legal protection to people who give reasonable assistance to those who are, or whom they believe to be, injured, ill, in peril, or otherwise incapacitated.

Emergency Action Plan

a formal document outlining the steps to be taken in the event of a medical crisis or disaster. 

Nonemergency

any medical illness or injury that does not pose a serious threat to life or limb