By Kele Cioflec for Athletico Physical Therapy
If you?ve been at an interscholastic event, you?ve likely seen an athletic trainer at work and probably didn?t even know it. The National Athletic Training Association (NATA) states that ?athletic training encompasses the prevention, examination, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of emergent, acute or chronic injuries and medical conditions.?
Every year the NATA has a theme for National Athletic Training Month. This year?s theme is very true and close to the hearts of Athletico?s athletic trainers ? ?Your Protection is Our Priority.? To help celebrate the month, check out these facts that you may not know about athletic trainers:
1. Athletic Trainers go to school for four years at a CAATE accredited college to complete a Bachelor?s degree. After graduation, athletic trainers take the Board Of Certification (BOC) exam, which covers everything that was learned in college. Passage of the BOC is a requirement for the practice of athletic training in most states.1
2. 70 percent of Certified Athletic Trainers have a Master?s Degree.
3. The American Medical Association, Health Resources Services Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services recognize Athletic Training as an allied health care profession.
4. Athletic Trainers are licensed/regulated in 49 states and the District of Columbia.
5. Every two years athletic trainers are required to complete 50 Continuing Education Units to maintain their athletic training certification with the BOC.
6. Athletic trainers aren?t just at high schools, colleges and youth sporting events. A few of the other settings you can find these professionals include physician offices, health care administrations, law enforcement, theaters, industrial sites and the military.
7. The Athletic Training Profession started in the 20th century and the National Athletic Trainers? Association (NATA) was founded in 1950.
8. Athletic Trainers can apply for a National Provider Identifier (NPI)as mid-level health care professional. The NPI is a unique, 10-digit identification number issued to health care providers in the U.S. by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
9. Athletic trainers abide by HIPAA laws just like all medical professionals. An athlete?s injury (and recovery) is between the athlete, the athletic trainer, a parent/guardian if the athlete is under 18 and a doctor (if the athlete is seeing one).
10. The priority of athletic trainers is to protect the athletes they work with. Their goal is to help athletes get back to 100 percent health as fast and safely as possible.
11. Athletic trainers get just as excited for game days as athletes do! They may even have their own ?game day rituals.?
12. Athletic trainers do a lot of ?behind the scenes? work. Some of the duties outside of game time assistance include organizing physicals and assist with administrative duties, keeping meticulous notes on injuries, and pre- and post-game/practice treatments.
13. Athletic trainers are here to help everyone on the teams they work with!
Celebrating NATM
Athletico Certified Athletic Trainers are highly skilled and educated health professionals who work to provide optimal health care to athletes. If your organization is in need of an athletic trainer, please click the button below.
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