State of the Athletic Training Profession in Connecticut If you take a look into the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, you can find definitions of Athletic Training and athletic trainers: Athletic training encompasses the prevention, examination, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of emergent, acute, or chronic injuries and medical conditions. Athletic trainers are highly qualified, multi-skilled health care professionals who render service or treatment, under the direction of, or in collaboration with, a physician. As a part of the health care team, services provided by athletic trainers include primary care, injury and illness prevention, wellness promotion and education, emergent care, examination and clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. In the state of Connecticut, athletic trainers have a very close relationship with and operate under stand- ing orders of a physician with consistent communica- tion to ensure quality care and best practice. ATs can be found practicing in settings across the state includ- ing in their traditional role of secondary school, collegiate, professional, and youth/amateur athletics; within physician practice settings working alongside physicians in clinics and operating rooms; within occupational health settings at corporations such as, Amazon or Coca-Cola; within the public safety setting in a tactical role within our police, fire, and military; performing arts, and in a rehabilitative role within either multi-disciplinary clinics or entrepre- neurial spaces that are designated as rehabilitation for the active individual. Athletic trainers are also across higher education. While athletic trainers have some similar compo- nents of care and education that in some spaces will complement other health care, wellness, or first responder roles within a care team, the unique education and skillset of the athletic trainer sets the profession apart and cannot be replaced in the traditional sense on the sidelines or within a commu- nity. This can be showcased in the extensive educa- tion and skill with emergency action plans, environ- mental related concerns and care, taping, bracing, protective equipment removal, wound care, differen- tial diagnosis and emergency care of concussion, diabetes, sickle cell, emergency cardiac conditions, and rhabdomyolysis among others, hydration, assist- ing in pre-participation screening, and providing education on an individual patient or community level. The front-line healthcare provider in a tradi- tional athletic setting to recognize vulnerabilities and mitigate a scenario from becoming emergent, as well as, responding to and caring for emergencies on the field. Athletic trainers often provide the glue to ensuring well-rounded patient-centered care is provided on an individual or organizational level. Large scale cost savings for health conditions and benefits to the workers from a general health and wellness perspective is the reason companies, such as Amazon and Coca-Cola, have invested in athletic trainers. Public safety agencies including military, police, and fire have also seen upwards of millions of dollars saved in medical and workman’s comprehensive expenses by having an athletic trainer on site. Financial data from the Fairfax Police Department (VA) has been followed for years and has demonstrated an overall cost reduction of $2-4 Written in collaboration of Connecticut Athletic Trainers Association: Jessica Testani, MS LAT ATC (CATA President); Sara Macdonough-Civitello, MS LAT ATC (President-Elect); Heather Feiner, LAT ATC (Vice-President); Amanda Strong, DHSc, LAT ATC (Secretary); Nicole Peas, MS LAT ATC (Treasurer); Kelly Coleman, PhD, LAT ATC (board); Rebecca Mella, EdD LAT ATC (board); Ryan Nurse, MBA, LAT ATC (board); Gary Morin PhD, LAT ATC; Eleni Diakogeoriou, PhD MBA, ATC 9
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