Athletic Trainers Fill Niche as Physician Extenders

Marjorie J. Albohm, for HealthLeaders Media, March 12, 2009

Athletic trainers' professional preparation is based on the development of specified educational competencies and clinical proficiencies. Through a combination of formal classroom and clinical instruction complemented by clinical experience, athletic trainers are prepared to provide healthcare within each of the following content areas:

• Risk management and injury prevention
• Pathology of injuries and illnesses
• Orthopaedic clinical examination and diagnosis
• Medical conditions and disabilities
• Acute care of injury and illnesses
• Therapeutic modalities
• Conditioning, rehabilitative exercise and referral
• Pharmacology
• Psychosocial intervention and referral
• Nutritional aspects of injury and illnesses
• Healthcare administration

Until recently the relationship between physicians and athletic trainers has been on the sports playing field, where for years they have partnered in delivering healthcare to athletes. However, the increased need for providers during this shortage, means increased number of athletic trainers moving into the physician clinical setting, too.

Case Study: Emory Sports Medicine Center
In an effort to evaluate the benefit of employing certified athletic trainers, Emory Sports Medicine Center implemented a study to determine the financial and clinical effectiveness of using them as the primary clinical assistant in the orthopedic office.

"Athletic trainers help enhance a physician's communication with patients by serving as another source of expert information that patients can absorb," says Xerogeanes. "Athletic trainers are a key part of our sports medicine service delivery model."

By comparing the number of patient encounters and bill charges of two primary care physician practices—both before and during the introduction of a certified athletic trainer—it was shown that certified athletic trainers had a positive effect on patient throughput and revenue. Results showed that certified athletic trainers can increase a physician's productivity up to 23% and increase revenue by up to 42%.

"The use of certified athletic trainers has allowed us to better leverage our non-operative physicians, thus increasing productivity and professional billings," says Mark Miller, senior clinical administrator at Emory. "Over a six-month study period, we have seen improvements in provider productivity, as measured by encounters, on the order of 22%."

Athletic Trainers: Education, National Certification
Athletic trainers must have a minimum of a bachelor's degree (and seven in 10 have a master's degree or higher), and in most states, they must maintain certification through the Board of Certification, an organization independent of NATA. Certified athletic trainers differ from "personal trainers" who focus solely on fitness and conditioning and whose training does not require a college degree.

Before being certified, those hoping to become athletic trainers must complete an academic major or graduate-equivalent program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).

Athletic training programs use a medical-based education model in both classroom and clinical settings that teaches students to provide comprehensive preventive services and care in six domains of clinical practice: prevention, clinical evaluation and diagnosis, immediate care, organization and administration, professional responsibility, and treatment, rehabilitation, and reconditioning.

Program graduates then take the Board of Certification (BOC) exam in order to be credentialed as a certified athletic trainer. The ATC credential is recognized and required by all but one state that regulate or license the practice of athletic trainers. They are licensed or recognized in 46 states.

---

Marjorie J. Albohm, MS, ATC, is president of the National Athletic Trainers' Association. To learn more about athletic trainers, contact the National Athletic Trainers' Association at 800-879-6282, or visit the NATA Career Center directly at www.NATA.org/careercenter.

---

For information on how you can contribute to HealthLeaders Media online, please read our Editorial Guidelines.