million with a reduction of 32% for lost days, and a 22% reduction in overall medical costs. In 2017, the Milwaukee Fire Department reported saving $500,000 in emergency room costs in the first 6 months and significant overtime costs. Physician practices have published data of improved patient quality care surveys, increased patient education, and number of patients able to be seen per day multiplying with an athletic trainer’s assistance. Next time you are enjoying watching a Connecticut fall Friday night game you can look around and spot the medical professional that has completed ninety percent of their “job” before the game began. Prior to game day, this starts with ensuring preparticipation screenings are clear, developing and practicing an emergency action plan, coordinating care with appro- priate physicians and health care teams, assessing and evaluating injuries, managing treatment, rehabilita- tion, and return to play protocols, maintaining com- pliance with health and safety regulations, communi- cation with physicians on a student-athlete care plan, and being the glue that understands the individual as a whole (mentally and physically). “Game-Day” components can then include taping/bracing and prepping athletes to perform; knowing environment components of the day and how they can impact player safety, for example, do we need heat plans and prep in place; hydration and nutrition; mental health and mental performance; emergency equipment accessible; our emergency action plan components clearly communicated with other stakeholders pres- ent (traveling athletic trainers, EMTs, paramedics, team physicians, referees, coaches, administrators, security, police, etc) in a medical time out. Once the whistle blows to begin the game, the athlet- ic trainer can be responsible for anything from bleeding or injury evaluations, to asthma or panic attacks, on to concussions or spinal injuries, diabetic care or seizures, deciding between heat exhaustion, rhabdomyolysis, or sickle cell episode, and deciding whether it is appropriate mentally and physically for an athlete to continue playing. In an ordinary game, you can go from cheering for a possible touchdown catch to running on the field to an unconscious athlete requiring spinal stabilization, emergency care, quick and safe equipment removal, and transfer of care to emergency personnel. One of the most important aspects of being an athletic trainer is building strong relationships based on trust and reliability. This foundation supports a patient-centered approach, ensuring that both the physical and mental well-being of each individual is understood and cared for. Athletic trainers who consistently interact with students are uniquely positioned to identify red flags—especially those related to mental health—and provide timely support tailored to the needs of each athlete in the moment. Taking all of this into consideration, it is important to note that the role of the athletic trainer is not always readily available to patient populations due to labor availability of an athletic trainer or the lack of support for the role itself. There are several vacant positions, meaning several high school sidelines with zero athletic trainer access. In the past year the state of CT has developed a task force to study the short- age of athletic trainers within the state. Through that task force multiple stakeholders have come together to both study the reasons for the shortage and provide possible recruitment and retention strategies moving forward. The task force in Connecticut is not a unique study concern as there have been multiple means of studying the barriers and implications of recruitment and retention of athletic trainers locally and national- ly, including the National Athletic Trainers Associa- AT Emergency Action Plan/Skill Practice with EMS, school admin, etc 10
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