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Fundamentals of Athletic Training, Fourth Edition With Web Study Guide, offers a well-rounded introduction to the field of athletic training. It presents injuries and illnesses commonly encountered by certified athletic trainers and also reviews professional and administrative aspects of the profession. Written specifically for high school and community college students, this text provides students with the foundational knowledge and skills to assist athletic trainers on the field and in the training room, as well as the opportunity to evaluate the possibility of a career as a sports medicine professional.
In an engaging full-color layout, the updated fourth edition presents the latest developments in athletic training with regard to treatment, care, administration, and certification. New material in this edition includes the following:
• Professional preparation and career potential
• Documentation, record keeping, and electronic injury tracking systems
• Development and design of an athletic training facility
• Fiscal management and equipment ordering
• Analysis of preexisting conditions and preparticipation exams
• Basic diagnostic tests, including X-rays, ultrasounds, and drug screening tests
• Ethics for sports medicine professionals
After reviewing human anatomy and the physiology of injury and tissue healing, students will find head-to-toe coverage of common injuries with explanations of appropriate treatment protocols. The text also discusses various conditions, illnesses, and communicable diseases along with information on nutrition and the effects of therapeutic, recreational, and performance-enhancing drug use. Students will learn the fundamentals of rehabilitation and injury prevention techniques through the use of taping, wrapping, and protective equipment.
Learning aids in this fourth edition include Red Flags features, which warn of potentially hazardous situations; What Would You Do If . . . features, which present students with complex and life-threatening situations to test their decision making and The Real World features, which share actual experiences from practicing athletic trainers. The fourth edition also features a new web study guide that offers activities and assignments to support classroom instruction. The web study guide includes 28 practical skill worksheets that allow for hands-on experience, as well as a semester-long project that develops with each chapter to give students a true understanding of the requirements needed to be an effective athletic trainer. Instructors will have access to an instructor guide, test package, chapter quizzes, and a presentation package plus image bank.
Fundamentals of Athletic Training, Fourth Edition, provides a clear understanding of the functions, skills, and activities that are involved in the work of certified athletic trainers. By offering a solid introduction to the profession, this text will pique the interest of students considering their career possibilities and act as a springboard to a future in athletic training and sports medicine.
Unit I. Professional and Administrative Aspects of Athletic Training
Chapter 1. Athletic Training as a Profession
Roles of the Athletic Trainer
The Sports Medicine Team
Becoming a Certified Athletic Trainer
Athletic Training Careers
National Athletic Trainers’ Association
Chapter 2. Administration and Professional Development
Legal Issues
Avoiding Legal Problems
Insurance
Professional Development and Continuing Education
The PREMIER Model
Chapter 3. Design and Development of the Athletic Training Facility
Facility Design and Development
Safety Factors and Planning Issues
Maintenance of Facility and Modalities
Material Safety Data Sheets
Facility Rules
Chapter 4. Documentation and Record Keeping
Medical Terminology Basics
Medical Documentation Notes
Injury Reports and Charts
Patient Confidentiality
Chapter 5. Fiscal Management
Types of Budgets
Designing a Budget
Purchasing
Inventory Management
Chapter 6. The Preparticipation Physical Exam
Preparticipation Format and Parts
Medical Information Forms
Clearance for Participation in Sport
Unit II. Basics of Human Anatomy and Physiology
Chapter 7. Introduction to Anatomy
Anatomical Position
Body Tissues
Classification of Joints
Muscle Movement
Chapter 8. Basics of Tissue Injuries
Soft-Tissue Injuries
Bone Injuries
Unit III. Athletic-Related Injuries to the Head, Spine, and Axial Region
Chapter 9. Head Injuries
Anatomy of the Head
Preventing Head Injuries
Head Injury Mechanisms
Treating Head Injuries
Chapter 10. Facial Injuries
Anatomy of the Facial Region
Preventing Facial Injuries
Treating Eye Injuries and Conditions
Treating Ear Injuries
Treating Nose Injuries
Treating Mouth Injuries
Chapter 11. Throat and Thorax Injuries
Anatomy of the Throat
Anatomy of the Thorax
Preventing Throat and Thorax Injuries
Treating Throat Injuries and Conditions
Treating Thorax Injuries and Conditions
Chapter 12. Abdominal Injuries
Anatomy of the Abdomen
Preventing Abdominal Injuries
Treating Abdominal Injuries and Conditions
Chapter 13. Spinal Injuries
Anatomy of the Spine
Postural Considerations
Preventing Spinal Injuries
Treating Lumbar Spine Injuries and Conditions
Treating Cervical Spine Injuries and Conditions
Unit IV. Athletic-Related Injuries to the Upper Extremity
Chapter 14. Shoulder Injuries
Anatomy of the Shoulder
Preventing Shoulder Injuries
Treating Shoulder Injuries
Muscle, Bursa, and Tendon Injuries
Ligament and Joint Injuries
Chapter 15. Elbow Injuries
Anatomy of the Elbow
Preventing Elbow Injuries
Treating Elbow Injuries and Conditions
Chapter 16. Wrist and Hand Injuries
Anatomy of the Wrist and Hand
Preventing Wrist and Hand Injuries
Treating Wrist and Hand Injuries and Conditions
Unit V. Athletic-Related Injuries to the Lower Extremity
Chapter 17. Hip, Pelvis, and Thigh Injuries
Anatomy of the Hip, Pelvis, and Thigh
Preventing Hip, Pelvis, and Thigh Injuries
Treating Hip, Pelvis, and Thigh Injuries and Conditions
Chapter 18. Knee Injuries
Anatomy of the Knee
Preventing Knee Injuries
Treating Knee Injuries and Conditions
Chapter 19. Foot, Ankle, and Lower-Leg Injuries
Anatomy of the Foot, Ankle, and Lower Leg
Preventing Foot, Ankle, and Lower-Leg Injuries
Treating Foot, Ankle, and Lower-Leg Injuries and Conditions
Unit VI. Rehabilitation and Reconditioning of Athletic Injuries
Chapter 20. Patient Assessment and Treatment Methods
Assessing the Athlete and Documenting the Findings
Phases of Treatment
Therapeutic Modalities
Chapter 21. Reconditioning Programs
Strength and Conditioning Principles
Types of Muscle Actions
Muscular Development Programs
Joint Flexibility
Exercises for Reconditioning Muscles
Cardiorespiratory Conditioning
A Word on Safety
Chapter 22. Psychosocial Aspects of Athletic Training
Referring an Athlete for Professional Help
Relationship Building
Practical Suggestions
Unit VII. Providing Emergency Care
Chapter 23. Planning for Emergencies
Medical Emergency Cards
The Crisis Plan
Practicing the Crisis Plan
Chapter 24. Primary and Secondary Procedures
Primary Assessment
Breathing Emergencies
Cardiopulmonary Emergencies
Hemorrhage
Preventing Communicable Disease Transmission
Secondary Assessment
HIT
Specific Conditions
PRICES Method
Chapter 25. Environmental Situations and Injuries
Heat-Related Problems
Cold-Related Problems
Severe Weather
Bites and Stings
Chapter 26. Stabilization and Transportation of Injured Athletes
Equipment Removal
Lifting and Moving an Athlete
Unit VIII. Preventing Athletic Injuries
Chapter 27. Protective Taping and Wrapping
Principles of Taping
Taping Techniques
Elastic Wrapping Techniques
Chapter 28. Protective Equipment Used in Athletics
Protective Equipment for the Head and Face
Protective Equipment for the Upper Body
Protective Equipment for the Lower Body
Unit IX. Other Athletic Conditions and Concerns
Chapter 29. Basic Diagnostic Imaging and Testing
X-Rays
Bone Scans
CT Scans
MRI
Ultrasound
DEXA Scans
PET Scans
Blood Testing
Drug Testing
Chapter 30. Conditions and Illnesses
Respiratory Conditions
Vascular Conditions
Gastrointestinal Conditions
Diabetes
Epilepsy
Arthritis
Female Athlete Triad
Rhabdomyolysis
Chapter 31. Communicable Diseases
Defending Against Microorganisms
Blood-Borne Conditions
Chapter 32. Common Drugs Used in Athletics
Therapeutic Drugs
Recreational Drugs
Performance-Enhancing Drugs
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Drugs
Drug Abuse
Safety in Distribution of Medications
Proper Disposal of Medications
Chapter 33. Nutrition and Weight Control
Major Nutrients
Healthy Diet
Understanding Food Nutrition Labels
Caloric Balance
Sport Nutrition
Popular Nutritional Supplements
Chapter 34. Athletes With Disabilities or Disorders
History of Disabled Sport
Orthopedic Disabilities
Auditory and Visual Impairments
Cardiovascular Disorders
Transplants
Neuromuscular Disorders
Assessing Participation Conditions
Common Injuries
Lorin A. Cartwright, MS, ATC, is a consultant with extensive experience in all aspects of instruction of student athletic trainers. Cartwright earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from Grand Valley State University and a master's degree in education from the University of Michigan. She was the head athletic trainer, assistant principal, and athletic director at Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she served for more than 32 years. She was an adjunct professor in athletic training at the University of Michigan for three years. Cartwright also taught at Eastern Michigan University and Concordia University. She currently serves as a private consultant in athletic training and sport management.
Cartwright is the author or coauthor of eight books, including the popular Preparing for the Athletic Trainers' Certification Exam, and she was the first woman and first high school athletic trainer to serve as the president of the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers Association (GLATA). She served as the investigative chair of the Committee on Professional Ethics for the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) from 1998 to 2004 and was also an active member of NATA’s National Membership Committee and the National Review Committee for Misconduct from 1988 through 1992. Highly regarded in her field, Cartwright was the recipient of the NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award in 2018, the GLATA Golden Pinnacle Award and induction into the hall of fame in 2016, the GLATA Outstanding Educator Award in 2010, the GLATA Athletic Trainer Award in 2002, the Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award from the Michigan Athletic Trainers Society in 1999, and the NATA Distinguished Service Award in 1998.
Cartwright has been the athletic trainer for the amateur and semiprofessional summer basketball league and the Michigan men’s basketball all-star team, and she worked at the Olympic Trials for wrestling. Her travels have taken her to Alaska, Italy, Nova Scotia, Sweden, Finland, and the Caribbean.
Cartwright resides in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she enjoys woodworking, creating stained glass, and gardening in her free time.
Kimberly S. Peer, EdD, ATC, FNATA, is a professor in the athletic training department at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. She holds a doctorate in higher education administration with a cognate in health care management from the University of Akron. She teaches in the areas of professional development, ethics for allied health care providers, education and supervision, and scientific writing. Before coming to Kent State University, Peer was on the faculty of University of Mount Union (formerly Mount Union College) and served as the director of the Academy for Health and Sport Science and coordinator for sports medicine at the Rehabilitation and Health Center. Prior to beginning her clinical and academic positions, Peer received her master of arts degree in athletic training from Western Michigan University in 1988 and her bachelor of science degree from Kent State University.
In addition to having served as the editor in chief for the Athletic Training Education Journal, Peer serves on the Ethics Committee of the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Executive Committee for Education, the NATA Committee on Professional Ethics, and the NATA Education Advaancement Committee. She also served as chair of the Board of Certification (BOC) Standards Committee and on the NATA’s Research and Education Foundation and Free Communications Committee, as well as an editorial board member for the Journal of Athletic Training. Her statewide service includes the governor’s appointment to the Ohio licensure board and over 12 years of leadership service to the Ohio Athletic Trainers’ Association (OATA).
Peer is a fellow of the NATA and received the NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award in 2010, in addition to being appointed to the OATA Hall of Fame in 2012 and earning the Dan Libera Service Award from the BOC in 2014. She has also been lauded with other national, regional, and state-level awards for her contributions to the profession and athletic training education, including the GLATA Outstanding Educator Award and OATA Linda Weber Daniel Outstanding Mentor Award. She has published and presented extensively on ethics education and pedagogy, and she has coauthored textbooks on ethics in athletic training with Dr. Gretchen Schlabach.
What is an athletic trainer?
Athletic training is a profession dedicated to maintaining and improving the health and well-being of the physically active population and preventing athletic-related injuries and illnesses.
Athletic training is a profession dedicated to maintaining and improving the health and well-being of the physically active population and preventing athletic-related injuries and illnesses. Athletic trainers are defined as follows:
Health care professionals who render service or treatment, under the direction of or in collaboration with a physician, in accordance with their education and training and the states' statutes, rules and regulations. As a part of the health care team, services provided by ATs include injury and illness prevention, wellness promotion and education, emergent care, examination and clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention, and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. (National Athletic Trainers' Association n.d.a)
The credential for the certified athletic trainer (AT) is the ATC. The credential ATC after one's name is evidence that the person has the appropriate education and training to work as a certified AT. Although people have provided health care to injured athletes for centuries, it was not until 1991 that the American Medical Association formally recognized athletic training as an allied health care profession. The National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA), which is responsible for setting professional standards, was formed in 1950. The NATA Board of Certification (BOC) is responsible for conducting the national certification process.
In 2015, the BOC studied and established the various roles of the AT, which include the following practice domains (Henderson 2015):
- Injury and illness prevention and wellness protection. The prevention of athletic injuries and illness includes educating athletes and their families about potential risks of athletic participation and how to reduce them. Some items involved in managing the risk include preparticipation physical exams; proper strength and conditioning programs; proper equipment and equipment fitting; taping, bandaging, and bracing; and good nutrition.
- Examination, assessment, and diagnosis. The AT must be able to recognize the type of injury and its severity so that she will know how to treat it or when to refer the athlete to a physician.
- Immediate and emergency care. When an athlete is injured, the AT must be ready to respond with a standard of care that is effective for the emergency presented. The AT must be able to communicate with various providers and family under stressful conditions. He must maintain first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification through such organizations as the American Red Cross and the National Safety Council.
- Therapeutic intervention. After initial treatment, the AT directs the athlete through exercises and treatments to help her return to normal function. This is called rehabilitation. Reconditioning is getting the athlete back into physical shape for athletic participation.
- Health care administration and professional responsibility. ATs are often responsible for managing state-of-the-art facilities, so they must have the administrative skills necessary for preparing work and purchase orders and scheduling staff. Additionally, injuries, treatments, and rehabilitation progress must be documented accurately.
- Leadership, strategic planning, goal setting, and human resources. “The athletic training program will rely on skills in these areas to stay on the cutting edge of providing the best professional services on behalf of their athletes”(Henderson 2015).Technology changes rapidly, and ATs must continue their education to remain current with the latest developments in health care. To do so, they attend seminars, read journals, write articles and books, and conduct research. ATs must conduct themselves professionally and with integrity. No one likes receiving medical treatment from someone who is unprofessional. A professional understands that she cannot accomplish everything by herself, so she works as part of a sports medicine team.
Documentation and record keeping in athletic training
Data from injury reports should be recorded not only to reduce liability but also to track injury trends and make decisions about how best to treat these injuries. The benefit of computerized records is that they provide a database for future reference.
Data from injury reports should be recorded not only to reduce liability but also to track injury trends and make decisions about how best to treat these injuries. The benefit of computerized records is that they provide a database for future reference. These records can provide data regarding supply use, traffic flow in the athletic training room during peak times, specific injury patterns for each sport, rehabilitation equipment usage, and other valuable information that can be used to direct the functions in the athletic training room. In today's environment, numbers are powerful, and if the AT can prove that there is excessive need for perhaps another staff member or a new piece of equipment, the likelihood of acquiring support is stronger with numbers.
Records are also part of the legal system (see chapter 2). Documentation of everything that happens protects the athletic trainer throughout his career. That is why it is so important to have good, organized records that are prioritized and maintained regularly. Although one would hope to never need them in a legal case, records protect the AT and provide evidence of what was or was not done in a given situation.
Exactly which procedures must be documented is often debated. ATs should document any accident of which they are aware (even if it is not due to athletic participation), any treatment that an athlete receives, and the rehabilitation progress that an athlete makes. Many computer documentation or record-keeping systems are available to ATs. Computer systems make it easy to file injury reports, rehabilitation progress, and referral forms.
Records, in paper form, should be protected in locked file cabinets. Most systems require double locks, which means they are kept in a locked file cabinet behind a locked door. Computerized records should be secured through passwords, encryption, and other technical means. ATs should consult their technology experts to ensure appropriate security of all computerized records.
Accident and Injury Reports
Accident and injury reports contain vital information, including the athlete's name, the date of injury, the date of the report, the athlete's sport, the age of the athlete, and the body part that is injured. Additionally, the report must contain information about how the injury or accident occurred, whether it is a new or previous injury, and the AT's inspection and assessment information and signature. The report should also contain the AT's thoughts about the injury and record treatment such as ice application, splinting, or medical referral.
Go online to the Resources and Forms section of the web resource to find a printable injury report form.
Treatment Logs
Any treatment an athlete receives must be documented. Ice application, heat application, elastic wraps, stretching, strengthening, and so on must all be logged on a specific form.
Go online to the Resources and Forms section of the web resource to find a printable daily treatment log and treatment progress chart.
Rehabilitation Charts
Once an athlete has been injured, her injury assessed, and a proper rehabilitation program designed and implemented, it is essential that the AT document the athlete's progress. The AT must record the exact treatment received by the athlete, the date it was received, any problems or complaints, any changes in treatment, the athlete's response to treatment, and reevaluation data.
Injury-Tracking Systems
Injury-tracking systems have become very popular in athletic training. As athletic trainers try to prove their worth by getting national database information, computerized programs serve as the venue for compiling these records. Whether they are used exclusively for the AT program or as part of a larger initiative, injury-tracking systems provide valuable information for the athletic trainer. Although new systems emerge regularly, there are several that are quite popular in athletic training. Athletic Trainer System (ATS), SportsWare, Sports Injury Monitoring System (SIMS), SimTrack, NCAA, and Presagia Sports are the most prevalent software packages to date, and they have all been reviewed. When selecting a system, it is important to evaluate the following factors:
- Demographics
- Injury report
- Treatment reports
- Progress notes
- Medication log
- Physician referral
- Report generation
- Insurance information and claims
- Calendar
- Exercise flow sheet
- Price and annual fee
Each system has specific strengths and weaknesses. If you want to learn more about injury-tracking programs, do an internet search for “comparison of injury-tracking programs” and track the changes that have occurred over the years as technology has expanded.Selecting a program that is useful and appropriate for the AT's individual program is critical.
Learn more about blood tests
Blood tests can detect many different conditions in the human body and are used extensively and frequently in health care. After the blood is collected and stored properly, it is sent to a laboratory to be processed for the specific test the doctor ordered.
Blood tests can detect many different conditions in the human body and are used extensively and frequently in health care. After the blood is collected and stored properly, it is sent to a laboratory to be processed for the specific test the doctor ordered. The most common blood work ordered is the complete blood count (CBC), which can detect conditions such as anemia (low iron count), infections, clotting problems, and other disorders. The CBC looks at the counts of red blood cells (RBC), which reflect oxygen-carrying capacity; white blood cells (WBC), which fight infection; platelets, which detect clotting issues; hemoglobin, which detects iron content; as well as hematocrit, which detects how much space the RBCs take up; and mean corpuscle volume, which detects the size of the RBCs.
Metabolic tests are also commonly ordered to detect the chemicals in the blood that indicate the health of the muscles, including the heart and other vital organs such as the kidneys and liver. The basic metabolic panel measures blood glucose (sugar), calcium, and electrolytes to help doctors determine the health and function of the body as a whole. Other common blood tests to detect heart conditions and health are called lipoprotein panels. A lipoprotein panel provides information about total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good cholesterol), and triglycerides. These specific tests are important to understand and manage, especially as one ages, to ensure heart health. Although there are many more blood tests that a physician may order, these are the ones most commonly seen in health care. Blood tests provide valuable information for the general doctor to consider and a ground for referral to specialists if abnormalities are found. A hematologist is a doctor who deals with disorders of the blood. Depending on the condition found, other specialists may get involved as well.
As competition to be the best in sport increases, athletes and others are more susceptible to the lure of using drugs to enhance their performance. Drug testing is used widely by many athletic organizations, including but not limited to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Olympic Committee, and the NFL, who have listed specific banned substances (www.ncaa.org/2017-18-ncaa-banned-drugs-list). Drug testing also used in the workplace of many health care facilities. It typically involves a urine test. Commonly tested drugs include steroids, stimulants, depressants, and marijuana.
As a member of the health care team, it is important to work collaboratively with the physicians to understand the potential tests that will be prescribed. The algorithm in figure 29.5 presents the basic flow of screening tests that are typically performed in sports medicine. Although these tests are commonly used, far more specific tests will be prescribed based on the preliminary findings of the more familiar tests. Understanding the type of test and the reason it is being prescribed helps ATs communicate with the physician and patient more effectively.
Figure 29.5 Drug testing algorithm.
What is an athletic trainer?
Athletic training is a profession dedicated to maintaining and improving the health and well-being of the physically active population and preventing athletic-related injuries and illnesses.
Athletic training is a profession dedicated to maintaining and improving the health and well-being of the physically active population and preventing athletic-related injuries and illnesses. Athletic trainers are defined as follows:
Health care professionals who render service or treatment, under the direction of or in collaboration with a physician, in accordance with their education and training and the states' statutes, rules and regulations. As a part of the health care team, services provided by ATs include injury and illness prevention, wellness promotion and education, emergent care, examination and clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention, and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. (National Athletic Trainers' Association n.d.a)
The credential for the certified athletic trainer (AT) is the ATC. The credential ATC after one's name is evidence that the person has the appropriate education and training to work as a certified AT. Although people have provided health care to injured athletes for centuries, it was not until 1991 that the American Medical Association formally recognized athletic training as an allied health care profession. The National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA), which is responsible for setting professional standards, was formed in 1950. The NATA Board of Certification (BOC) is responsible for conducting the national certification process.
In 2015, the BOC studied and established the various roles of the AT, which include the following practice domains (Henderson 2015):
- Injury and illness prevention and wellness protection. The prevention of athletic injuries and illness includes educating athletes and their families about potential risks of athletic participation and how to reduce them. Some items involved in managing the risk include preparticipation physical exams; proper strength and conditioning programs; proper equipment and equipment fitting; taping, bandaging, and bracing; and good nutrition.
- Examination, assessment, and diagnosis. The AT must be able to recognize the type of injury and its severity so that she will know how to treat it or when to refer the athlete to a physician.
- Immediate and emergency care. When an athlete is injured, the AT must be ready to respond with a standard of care that is effective for the emergency presented. The AT must be able to communicate with various providers and family under stressful conditions. He must maintain first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification through such organizations as the American Red Cross and the National Safety Council.
- Therapeutic intervention. After initial treatment, the AT directs the athlete through exercises and treatments to help her return to normal function. This is called rehabilitation. Reconditioning is getting the athlete back into physical shape for athletic participation.
- Health care administration and professional responsibility. ATs are often responsible for managing state-of-the-art facilities, so they must have the administrative skills necessary for preparing work and purchase orders and scheduling staff. Additionally, injuries, treatments, and rehabilitation progress must be documented accurately.
- Leadership, strategic planning, goal setting, and human resources. “The athletic training program will rely on skills in these areas to stay on the cutting edge of providing the best professional services on behalf of their athletes”(Henderson 2015).Technology changes rapidly, and ATs must continue their education to remain current with the latest developments in health care. To do so, they attend seminars, read journals, write articles and books, and conduct research. ATs must conduct themselves professionally and with integrity. No one likes receiving medical treatment from someone who is unprofessional. A professional understands that she cannot accomplish everything by herself, so she works as part of a sports medicine team.
Documentation and record keeping in athletic training
Data from injury reports should be recorded not only to reduce liability but also to track injury trends and make decisions about how best to treat these injuries. The benefit of computerized records is that they provide a database for future reference.
Data from injury reports should be recorded not only to reduce liability but also to track injury trends and make decisions about how best to treat these injuries. The benefit of computerized records is that they provide a database for future reference. These records can provide data regarding supply use, traffic flow in the athletic training room during peak times, specific injury patterns for each sport, rehabilitation equipment usage, and other valuable information that can be used to direct the functions in the athletic training room. In today's environment, numbers are powerful, and if the AT can prove that there is excessive need for perhaps another staff member or a new piece of equipment, the likelihood of acquiring support is stronger with numbers.
Records are also part of the legal system (see chapter 2). Documentation of everything that happens protects the athletic trainer throughout his career. That is why it is so important to have good, organized records that are prioritized and maintained regularly. Although one would hope to never need them in a legal case, records protect the AT and provide evidence of what was or was not done in a given situation.
Exactly which procedures must be documented is often debated. ATs should document any accident of which they are aware (even if it is not due to athletic participation), any treatment that an athlete receives, and the rehabilitation progress that an athlete makes. Many computer documentation or record-keeping systems are available to ATs. Computer systems make it easy to file injury reports, rehabilitation progress, and referral forms.
Records, in paper form, should be protected in locked file cabinets. Most systems require double locks, which means they are kept in a locked file cabinet behind a locked door. Computerized records should be secured through passwords, encryption, and other technical means. ATs should consult their technology experts to ensure appropriate security of all computerized records.
Accident and Injury Reports
Accident and injury reports contain vital information, including the athlete's name, the date of injury, the date of the report, the athlete's sport, the age of the athlete, and the body part that is injured. Additionally, the report must contain information about how the injury or accident occurred, whether it is a new or previous injury, and the AT's inspection and assessment information and signature. The report should also contain the AT's thoughts about the injury and record treatment such as ice application, splinting, or medical referral.
Go online to the Resources and Forms section of the web resource to find a printable injury report form.
Treatment Logs
Any treatment an athlete receives must be documented. Ice application, heat application, elastic wraps, stretching, strengthening, and so on must all be logged on a specific form.
Go online to the Resources and Forms section of the web resource to find a printable daily treatment log and treatment progress chart.
Rehabilitation Charts
Once an athlete has been injured, her injury assessed, and a proper rehabilitation program designed and implemented, it is essential that the AT document the athlete's progress. The AT must record the exact treatment received by the athlete, the date it was received, any problems or complaints, any changes in treatment, the athlete's response to treatment, and reevaluation data.
Injury-Tracking Systems
Injury-tracking systems have become very popular in athletic training. As athletic trainers try to prove their worth by getting national database information, computerized programs serve as the venue for compiling these records. Whether they are used exclusively for the AT program or as part of a larger initiative, injury-tracking systems provide valuable information for the athletic trainer. Although new systems emerge regularly, there are several that are quite popular in athletic training. Athletic Trainer System (ATS), SportsWare, Sports Injury Monitoring System (SIMS), SimTrack, NCAA, and Presagia Sports are the most prevalent software packages to date, and they have all been reviewed. When selecting a system, it is important to evaluate the following factors:
- Demographics
- Injury report
- Treatment reports
- Progress notes
- Medication log
- Physician referral
- Report generation
- Insurance information and claims
- Calendar
- Exercise flow sheet
- Price and annual fee
Each system has specific strengths and weaknesses. If you want to learn more about injury-tracking programs, do an internet search for “comparison of injury-tracking programs” and track the changes that have occurred over the years as technology has expanded.Selecting a program that is useful and appropriate for the AT's individual program is critical.
Learn more about blood tests
Blood tests can detect many different conditions in the human body and are used extensively and frequently in health care. After the blood is collected and stored properly, it is sent to a laboratory to be processed for the specific test the doctor ordered.
Blood tests can detect many different conditions in the human body and are used extensively and frequently in health care. After the blood is collected and stored properly, it is sent to a laboratory to be processed for the specific test the doctor ordered. The most common blood work ordered is the complete blood count (CBC), which can detect conditions such as anemia (low iron count), infections, clotting problems, and other disorders. The CBC looks at the counts of red blood cells (RBC), which reflect oxygen-carrying capacity; white blood cells (WBC), which fight infection; platelets, which detect clotting issues; hemoglobin, which detects iron content; as well as hematocrit, which detects how much space the RBCs take up; and mean corpuscle volume, which detects the size of the RBCs.
Metabolic tests are also commonly ordered to detect the chemicals in the blood that indicate the health of the muscles, including the heart and other vital organs such as the kidneys and liver. The basic metabolic panel measures blood glucose (sugar), calcium, and electrolytes to help doctors determine the health and function of the body as a whole. Other common blood tests to detect heart conditions and health are called lipoprotein panels. A lipoprotein panel provides information about total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good cholesterol), and triglycerides. These specific tests are important to understand and manage, especially as one ages, to ensure heart health. Although there are many more blood tests that a physician may order, these are the ones most commonly seen in health care. Blood tests provide valuable information for the general doctor to consider and a ground for referral to specialists if abnormalities are found. A hematologist is a doctor who deals with disorders of the blood. Depending on the condition found, other specialists may get involved as well.
As competition to be the best in sport increases, athletes and others are more susceptible to the lure of using drugs to enhance their performance. Drug testing is used widely by many athletic organizations, including but not limited to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Olympic Committee, and the NFL, who have listed specific banned substances (www.ncaa.org/2017-18-ncaa-banned-drugs-list). Drug testing also used in the workplace of many health care facilities. It typically involves a urine test. Commonly tested drugs include steroids, stimulants, depressants, and marijuana.
As a member of the health care team, it is important to work collaboratively with the physicians to understand the potential tests that will be prescribed. The algorithm in figure 29.5 presents the basic flow of screening tests that are typically performed in sports medicine. Although these tests are commonly used, far more specific tests will be prescribed based on the preliminary findings of the more familiar tests. Understanding the type of test and the reason it is being prescribed helps ATs communicate with the physician and patient more effectively.
Figure 29.5 Drug testing algorithm.
What is an athletic trainer?
Athletic training is a profession dedicated to maintaining and improving the health and well-being of the physically active population and preventing athletic-related injuries and illnesses.
Athletic training is a profession dedicated to maintaining and improving the health and well-being of the physically active population and preventing athletic-related injuries and illnesses. Athletic trainers are defined as follows:
Health care professionals who render service or treatment, under the direction of or in collaboration with a physician, in accordance with their education and training and the states' statutes, rules and regulations. As a part of the health care team, services provided by ATs include injury and illness prevention, wellness promotion and education, emergent care, examination and clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention, and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. (National Athletic Trainers' Association n.d.a)
The credential for the certified athletic trainer (AT) is the ATC. The credential ATC after one's name is evidence that the person has the appropriate education and training to work as a certified AT. Although people have provided health care to injured athletes for centuries, it was not until 1991 that the American Medical Association formally recognized athletic training as an allied health care profession. The National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA), which is responsible for setting professional standards, was formed in 1950. The NATA Board of Certification (BOC) is responsible for conducting the national certification process.
In 2015, the BOC studied and established the various roles of the AT, which include the following practice domains (Henderson 2015):
- Injury and illness prevention and wellness protection. The prevention of athletic injuries and illness includes educating athletes and their families about potential risks of athletic participation and how to reduce them. Some items involved in managing the risk include preparticipation physical exams; proper strength and conditioning programs; proper equipment and equipment fitting; taping, bandaging, and bracing; and good nutrition.
- Examination, assessment, and diagnosis. The AT must be able to recognize the type of injury and its severity so that she will know how to treat it or when to refer the athlete to a physician.
- Immediate and emergency care. When an athlete is injured, the AT must be ready to respond with a standard of care that is effective for the emergency presented. The AT must be able to communicate with various providers and family under stressful conditions. He must maintain first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification through such organizations as the American Red Cross and the National Safety Council.
- Therapeutic intervention. After initial treatment, the AT directs the athlete through exercises and treatments to help her return to normal function. This is called rehabilitation. Reconditioning is getting the athlete back into physical shape for athletic participation.
- Health care administration and professional responsibility. ATs are often responsible for managing state-of-the-art facilities, so they must have the administrative skills necessary for preparing work and purchase orders and scheduling staff. Additionally, injuries, treatments, and rehabilitation progress must be documented accurately.
- Leadership, strategic planning, goal setting, and human resources. “The athletic training program will rely on skills in these areas to stay on the cutting edge of providing the best professional services on behalf of their athletes”(Henderson 2015).Technology changes rapidly, and ATs must continue their education to remain current with the latest developments in health care. To do so, they attend seminars, read journals, write articles and books, and conduct research. ATs must conduct themselves professionally and with integrity. No one likes receiving medical treatment from someone who is unprofessional. A professional understands that she cannot accomplish everything by herself, so she works as part of a sports medicine team.
Documentation and record keeping in athletic training
Data from injury reports should be recorded not only to reduce liability but also to track injury trends and make decisions about how best to treat these injuries. The benefit of computerized records is that they provide a database for future reference.
Data from injury reports should be recorded not only to reduce liability but also to track injury trends and make decisions about how best to treat these injuries. The benefit of computerized records is that they provide a database for future reference. These records can provide data regarding supply use, traffic flow in the athletic training room during peak times, specific injury patterns for each sport, rehabilitation equipment usage, and other valuable information that can be used to direct the functions in the athletic training room. In today's environment, numbers are powerful, and if the AT can prove that there is excessive need for perhaps another staff member or a new piece of equipment, the likelihood of acquiring support is stronger with numbers.
Records are also part of the legal system (see chapter 2). Documentation of everything that happens protects the athletic trainer throughout his career. That is why it is so important to have good, organized records that are prioritized and maintained regularly. Although one would hope to never need them in a legal case, records protect the AT and provide evidence of what was or was not done in a given situation.
Exactly which procedures must be documented is often debated. ATs should document any accident of which they are aware (even if it is not due to athletic participation), any treatment that an athlete receives, and the rehabilitation progress that an athlete makes. Many computer documentation or record-keeping systems are available to ATs. Computer systems make it easy to file injury reports, rehabilitation progress, and referral forms.
Records, in paper form, should be protected in locked file cabinets. Most systems require double locks, which means they are kept in a locked file cabinet behind a locked door. Computerized records should be secured through passwords, encryption, and other technical means. ATs should consult their technology experts to ensure appropriate security of all computerized records.
Accident and Injury Reports
Accident and injury reports contain vital information, including the athlete's name, the date of injury, the date of the report, the athlete's sport, the age of the athlete, and the body part that is injured. Additionally, the report must contain information about how the injury or accident occurred, whether it is a new or previous injury, and the AT's inspection and assessment information and signature. The report should also contain the AT's thoughts about the injury and record treatment such as ice application, splinting, or medical referral.
Go online to the Resources and Forms section of the web resource to find a printable injury report form.
Treatment Logs
Any treatment an athlete receives must be documented. Ice application, heat application, elastic wraps, stretching, strengthening, and so on must all be logged on a specific form.
Go online to the Resources and Forms section of the web resource to find a printable daily treatment log and treatment progress chart.
Rehabilitation Charts
Once an athlete has been injured, her injury assessed, and a proper rehabilitation program designed and implemented, it is essential that the AT document the athlete's progress. The AT must record the exact treatment received by the athlete, the date it was received, any problems or complaints, any changes in treatment, the athlete's response to treatment, and reevaluation data.
Injury-Tracking Systems
Injury-tracking systems have become very popular in athletic training. As athletic trainers try to prove their worth by getting national database information, computerized programs serve as the venue for compiling these records. Whether they are used exclusively for the AT program or as part of a larger initiative, injury-tracking systems provide valuable information for the athletic trainer. Although new systems emerge regularly, there are several that are quite popular in athletic training. Athletic Trainer System (ATS), SportsWare, Sports Injury Monitoring System (SIMS), SimTrack, NCAA, and Presagia Sports are the most prevalent software packages to date, and they have all been reviewed. When selecting a system, it is important to evaluate the following factors:
- Demographics
- Injury report
- Treatment reports
- Progress notes
- Medication log
- Physician referral
- Report generation
- Insurance information and claims
- Calendar
- Exercise flow sheet
- Price and annual fee
Each system has specific strengths and weaknesses. If you want to learn more about injury-tracking programs, do an internet search for “comparison of injury-tracking programs” and track the changes that have occurred over the years as technology has expanded.Selecting a program that is useful and appropriate for the AT's individual program is critical.
Learn more about blood tests
Blood tests can detect many different conditions in the human body and are used extensively and frequently in health care. After the blood is collected and stored properly, it is sent to a laboratory to be processed for the specific test the doctor ordered.
Blood tests can detect many different conditions in the human body and are used extensively and frequently in health care. After the blood is collected and stored properly, it is sent to a laboratory to be processed for the specific test the doctor ordered. The most common blood work ordered is the complete blood count (CBC), which can detect conditions such as anemia (low iron count), infections, clotting problems, and other disorders. The CBC looks at the counts of red blood cells (RBC), which reflect oxygen-carrying capacity; white blood cells (WBC), which fight infection; platelets, which detect clotting issues; hemoglobin, which detects iron content; as well as hematocrit, which detects how much space the RBCs take up; and mean corpuscle volume, which detects the size of the RBCs.
Metabolic tests are also commonly ordered to detect the chemicals in the blood that indicate the health of the muscles, including the heart and other vital organs such as the kidneys and liver. The basic metabolic panel measures blood glucose (sugar), calcium, and electrolytes to help doctors determine the health and function of the body as a whole. Other common blood tests to detect heart conditions and health are called lipoprotein panels. A lipoprotein panel provides information about total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good cholesterol), and triglycerides. These specific tests are important to understand and manage, especially as one ages, to ensure heart health. Although there are many more blood tests that a physician may order, these are the ones most commonly seen in health care. Blood tests provide valuable information for the general doctor to consider and a ground for referral to specialists if abnormalities are found. A hematologist is a doctor who deals with disorders of the blood. Depending on the condition found, other specialists may get involved as well.
As competition to be the best in sport increases, athletes and others are more susceptible to the lure of using drugs to enhance their performance. Drug testing is used widely by many athletic organizations, including but not limited to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Olympic Committee, and the NFL, who have listed specific banned substances (www.ncaa.org/2017-18-ncaa-banned-drugs-list). Drug testing also used in the workplace of many health care facilities. It typically involves a urine test. Commonly tested drugs include steroids, stimulants, depressants, and marijuana.
As a member of the health care team, it is important to work collaboratively with the physicians to understand the potential tests that will be prescribed. The algorithm in figure 29.5 presents the basic flow of screening tests that are typically performed in sports medicine. Although these tests are commonly used, far more specific tests will be prescribed based on the preliminary findings of the more familiar tests. Understanding the type of test and the reason it is being prescribed helps ATs communicate with the physician and patient more effectively.
Figure 29.5 Drug testing algorithm.
What is an athletic trainer?
Athletic training is a profession dedicated to maintaining and improving the health and well-being of the physically active population and preventing athletic-related injuries and illnesses.
Athletic training is a profession dedicated to maintaining and improving the health and well-being of the physically active population and preventing athletic-related injuries and illnesses. Athletic trainers are defined as follows:
Health care professionals who render service or treatment, under the direction of or in collaboration with a physician, in accordance with their education and training and the states' statutes, rules and regulations. As a part of the health care team, services provided by ATs include injury and illness prevention, wellness promotion and education, emergent care, examination and clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention, and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. (National Athletic Trainers' Association n.d.a)
The credential for the certified athletic trainer (AT) is the ATC. The credential ATC after one's name is evidence that the person has the appropriate education and training to work as a certified AT. Although people have provided health care to injured athletes for centuries, it was not until 1991 that the American Medical Association formally recognized athletic training as an allied health care profession. The National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA), which is responsible for setting professional standards, was formed in 1950. The NATA Board of Certification (BOC) is responsible for conducting the national certification process.
In 2015, the BOC studied and established the various roles of the AT, which include the following practice domains (Henderson 2015):
- Injury and illness prevention and wellness protection. The prevention of athletic injuries and illness includes educating athletes and their families about potential risks of athletic participation and how to reduce them. Some items involved in managing the risk include preparticipation physical exams; proper strength and conditioning programs; proper equipment and equipment fitting; taping, bandaging, and bracing; and good nutrition.
- Examination, assessment, and diagnosis. The AT must be able to recognize the type of injury and its severity so that she will know how to treat it or when to refer the athlete to a physician.
- Immediate and emergency care. When an athlete is injured, the AT must be ready to respond with a standard of care that is effective for the emergency presented. The AT must be able to communicate with various providers and family under stressful conditions. He must maintain first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification through such organizations as the American Red Cross and the National Safety Council.
- Therapeutic intervention. After initial treatment, the AT directs the athlete through exercises and treatments to help her return to normal function. This is called rehabilitation. Reconditioning is getting the athlete back into physical shape for athletic participation.
- Health care administration and professional responsibility. ATs are often responsible for managing state-of-the-art facilities, so they must have the administrative skills necessary for preparing work and purchase orders and scheduling staff. Additionally, injuries, treatments, and rehabilitation progress must be documented accurately.
- Leadership, strategic planning, goal setting, and human resources. “The athletic training program will rely on skills in these areas to stay on the cutting edge of providing the best professional services on behalf of their athletes”(Henderson 2015).Technology changes rapidly, and ATs must continue their education to remain current with the latest developments in health care. To do so, they attend seminars, read journals, write articles and books, and conduct research. ATs must conduct themselves professionally and with integrity. No one likes receiving medical treatment from someone who is unprofessional. A professional understands that she cannot accomplish everything by herself, so she works as part of a sports medicine team.
Documentation and record keeping in athletic training
Data from injury reports should be recorded not only to reduce liability but also to track injury trends and make decisions about how best to treat these injuries. The benefit of computerized records is that they provide a database for future reference.
Data from injury reports should be recorded not only to reduce liability but also to track injury trends and make decisions about how best to treat these injuries. The benefit of computerized records is that they provide a database for future reference. These records can provide data regarding supply use, traffic flow in the athletic training room during peak times, specific injury patterns for each sport, rehabilitation equipment usage, and other valuable information that can be used to direct the functions in the athletic training room. In today's environment, numbers are powerful, and if the AT can prove that there is excessive need for perhaps another staff member or a new piece of equipment, the likelihood of acquiring support is stronger with numbers.
Records are also part of the legal system (see chapter 2). Documentation of everything that happens protects the athletic trainer throughout his career. That is why it is so important to have good, organized records that are prioritized and maintained regularly. Although one would hope to never need them in a legal case, records protect the AT and provide evidence of what was or was not done in a given situation.
Exactly which procedures must be documented is often debated. ATs should document any accident of which they are aware (even if it is not due to athletic participation), any treatment that an athlete receives, and the rehabilitation progress that an athlete makes. Many computer documentation or record-keeping systems are available to ATs. Computer systems make it easy to file injury reports, rehabilitation progress, and referral forms.
Records, in paper form, should be protected in locked file cabinets. Most systems require double locks, which means they are kept in a locked file cabinet behind a locked door. Computerized records should be secured through passwords, encryption, and other technical means. ATs should consult their technology experts to ensure appropriate security of all computerized records.
Accident and Injury Reports
Accident and injury reports contain vital information, including the athlete's name, the date of injury, the date of the report, the athlete's sport, the age of the athlete, and the body part that is injured. Additionally, the report must contain information about how the injury or accident occurred, whether it is a new or previous injury, and the AT's inspection and assessment information and signature. The report should also contain the AT's thoughts about the injury and record treatment such as ice application, splinting, or medical referral.
Go online to the Resources and Forms section of the web resource to find a printable injury report form.
Treatment Logs
Any treatment an athlete receives must be documented. Ice application, heat application, elastic wraps, stretching, strengthening, and so on must all be logged on a specific form.
Go online to the Resources and Forms section of the web resource to find a printable daily treatment log and treatment progress chart.
Rehabilitation Charts
Once an athlete has been injured, her injury assessed, and a proper rehabilitation program designed and implemented, it is essential that the AT document the athlete's progress. The AT must record the exact treatment received by the athlete, the date it was received, any problems or complaints, any changes in treatment, the athlete's response to treatment, and reevaluation data.
Injury-Tracking Systems
Injury-tracking systems have become very popular in athletic training. As athletic trainers try to prove their worth by getting national database information, computerized programs serve as the venue for compiling these records. Whether they are used exclusively for the AT program or as part of a larger initiative, injury-tracking systems provide valuable information for the athletic trainer. Although new systems emerge regularly, there are several that are quite popular in athletic training. Athletic Trainer System (ATS), SportsWare, Sports Injury Monitoring System (SIMS), SimTrack, NCAA, and Presagia Sports are the most prevalent software packages to date, and they have all been reviewed. When selecting a system, it is important to evaluate the following factors:
- Demographics
- Injury report
- Treatment reports
- Progress notes
- Medication log
- Physician referral
- Report generation
- Insurance information and claims
- Calendar
- Exercise flow sheet
- Price and annual fee
Each system has specific strengths and weaknesses. If you want to learn more about injury-tracking programs, do an internet search for “comparison of injury-tracking programs” and track the changes that have occurred over the years as technology has expanded.Selecting a program that is useful and appropriate for the AT's individual program is critical.
Learn more about blood tests
Blood tests can detect many different conditions in the human body and are used extensively and frequently in health care. After the blood is collected and stored properly, it is sent to a laboratory to be processed for the specific test the doctor ordered.
Blood tests can detect many different conditions in the human body and are used extensively and frequently in health care. After the blood is collected and stored properly, it is sent to a laboratory to be processed for the specific test the doctor ordered. The most common blood work ordered is the complete blood count (CBC), which can detect conditions such as anemia (low iron count), infections, clotting problems, and other disorders. The CBC looks at the counts of red blood cells (RBC), which reflect oxygen-carrying capacity; white blood cells (WBC), which fight infection; platelets, which detect clotting issues; hemoglobin, which detects iron content; as well as hematocrit, which detects how much space the RBCs take up; and mean corpuscle volume, which detects the size of the RBCs.
Metabolic tests are also commonly ordered to detect the chemicals in the blood that indicate the health of the muscles, including the heart and other vital organs such as the kidneys and liver. The basic metabolic panel measures blood glucose (sugar), calcium, and electrolytes to help doctors determine the health and function of the body as a whole. Other common blood tests to detect heart conditions and health are called lipoprotein panels. A lipoprotein panel provides information about total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good cholesterol), and triglycerides. These specific tests are important to understand and manage, especially as one ages, to ensure heart health. Although there are many more blood tests that a physician may order, these are the ones most commonly seen in health care. Blood tests provide valuable information for the general doctor to consider and a ground for referral to specialists if abnormalities are found. A hematologist is a doctor who deals with disorders of the blood. Depending on the condition found, other specialists may get involved as well.
As competition to be the best in sport increases, athletes and others are more susceptible to the lure of using drugs to enhance their performance. Drug testing is used widely by many athletic organizations, including but not limited to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Olympic Committee, and the NFL, who have listed specific banned substances (www.ncaa.org/2017-18-ncaa-banned-drugs-list). Drug testing also used in the workplace of many health care facilities. It typically involves a urine test. Commonly tested drugs include steroids, stimulants, depressants, and marijuana.
As a member of the health care team, it is important to work collaboratively with the physicians to understand the potential tests that will be prescribed. The algorithm in figure 29.5 presents the basic flow of screening tests that are typically performed in sports medicine. Although these tests are commonly used, far more specific tests will be prescribed based on the preliminary findings of the more familiar tests. Understanding the type of test and the reason it is being prescribed helps ATs communicate with the physician and patient more effectively.
Figure 29.5 Drug testing algorithm.
What is an athletic trainer?
Athletic training is a profession dedicated to maintaining and improving the health and well-being of the physically active population and preventing athletic-related injuries and illnesses.
Athletic training is a profession dedicated to maintaining and improving the health and well-being of the physically active population and preventing athletic-related injuries and illnesses. Athletic trainers are defined as follows:
Health care professionals who render service or treatment, under the direction of or in collaboration with a physician, in accordance with their education and training and the states' statutes, rules and regulations. As a part of the health care team, services provided by ATs include injury and illness prevention, wellness promotion and education, emergent care, examination and clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention, and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. (National Athletic Trainers' Association n.d.a)
The credential for the certified athletic trainer (AT) is the ATC. The credential ATC after one's name is evidence that the person has the appropriate education and training to work as a certified AT. Although people have provided health care to injured athletes for centuries, it was not until 1991 that the American Medical Association formally recognized athletic training as an allied health care profession. The National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA), which is responsible for setting professional standards, was formed in 1950. The NATA Board of Certification (BOC) is responsible for conducting the national certification process.
In 2015, the BOC studied and established the various roles of the AT, which include the following practice domains (Henderson 2015):
- Injury and illness prevention and wellness protection. The prevention of athletic injuries and illness includes educating athletes and their families about potential risks of athletic participation and how to reduce them. Some items involved in managing the risk include preparticipation physical exams; proper strength and conditioning programs; proper equipment and equipment fitting; taping, bandaging, and bracing; and good nutrition.
- Examination, assessment, and diagnosis. The AT must be able to recognize the type of injury and its severity so that she will know how to treat it or when to refer the athlete to a physician.
- Immediate and emergency care. When an athlete is injured, the AT must be ready to respond with a standard of care that is effective for the emergency presented. The AT must be able to communicate with various providers and family under stressful conditions. He must maintain first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification through such organizations as the American Red Cross and the National Safety Council.
- Therapeutic intervention. After initial treatment, the AT directs the athlete through exercises and treatments to help her return to normal function. This is called rehabilitation. Reconditioning is getting the athlete back into physical shape for athletic participation.
- Health care administration and professional responsibility. ATs are often responsible for managing state-of-the-art facilities, so they must have the administrative skills necessary for preparing work and purchase orders and scheduling staff. Additionally, injuries, treatments, and rehabilitation progress must be documented accurately.
- Leadership, strategic planning, goal setting, and human resources. “The athletic training program will rely on skills in these areas to stay on the cutting edge of providing the best professional services on behalf of their athletes”(Henderson 2015).Technology changes rapidly, and ATs must continue their education to remain current with the latest developments in health care. To do so, they attend seminars, read journals, write articles and books, and conduct research. ATs must conduct themselves professionally and with integrity. No one likes receiving medical treatment from someone who is unprofessional. A professional understands that she cannot accomplish everything by herself, so she works as part of a sports medicine team.
Documentation and record keeping in athletic training
Data from injury reports should be recorded not only to reduce liability but also to track injury trends and make decisions about how best to treat these injuries. The benefit of computerized records is that they provide a database for future reference.
Data from injury reports should be recorded not only to reduce liability but also to track injury trends and make decisions about how best to treat these injuries. The benefit of computerized records is that they provide a database for future reference. These records can provide data regarding supply use, traffic flow in the athletic training room during peak times, specific injury patterns for each sport, rehabilitation equipment usage, and other valuable information that can be used to direct the functions in the athletic training room. In today's environment, numbers are powerful, and if the AT can prove that there is excessive need for perhaps another staff member or a new piece of equipment, the likelihood of acquiring support is stronger with numbers.
Records are also part of the legal system (see chapter 2). Documentation of everything that happens protects the athletic trainer throughout his career. That is why it is so important to have good, organized records that are prioritized and maintained regularly. Although one would hope to never need them in a legal case, records protect the AT and provide evidence of what was or was not done in a given situation.
Exactly which procedures must be documented is often debated. ATs should document any accident of which they are aware (even if it is not due to athletic participation), any treatment that an athlete receives, and the rehabilitation progress that an athlete makes. Many computer documentation or record-keeping systems are available to ATs. Computer systems make it easy to file injury reports, rehabilitation progress, and referral forms.
Records, in paper form, should be protected in locked file cabinets. Most systems require double locks, which means they are kept in a locked file cabinet behind a locked door. Computerized records should be secured through passwords, encryption, and other technical means. ATs should consult their technology experts to ensure appropriate security of all computerized records.
Accident and Injury Reports
Accident and injury reports contain vital information, including the athlete's name, the date of injury, the date of the report, the athlete's sport, the age of the athlete, and the body part that is injured. Additionally, the report must contain information about how the injury or accident occurred, whether it is a new or previous injury, and the AT's inspection and assessment information and signature. The report should also contain the AT's thoughts about the injury and record treatment such as ice application, splinting, or medical referral.
Go online to the Resources and Forms section of the web resource to find a printable injury report form.
Treatment Logs
Any treatment an athlete receives must be documented. Ice application, heat application, elastic wraps, stretching, strengthening, and so on must all be logged on a specific form.
Go online to the Resources and Forms section of the web resource to find a printable daily treatment log and treatment progress chart.
Rehabilitation Charts
Once an athlete has been injured, her injury assessed, and a proper rehabilitation program designed and implemented, it is essential that the AT document the athlete's progress. The AT must record the exact treatment received by the athlete, the date it was received, any problems or complaints, any changes in treatment, the athlete's response to treatment, and reevaluation data.
Injury-Tracking Systems
Injury-tracking systems have become very popular in athletic training. As athletic trainers try to prove their worth by getting national database information, computerized programs serve as the venue for compiling these records. Whether they are used exclusively for the AT program or as part of a larger initiative, injury-tracking systems provide valuable information for the athletic trainer. Although new systems emerge regularly, there are several that are quite popular in athletic training. Athletic Trainer System (ATS), SportsWare, Sports Injury Monitoring System (SIMS), SimTrack, NCAA, and Presagia Sports are the most prevalent software packages to date, and they have all been reviewed. When selecting a system, it is important to evaluate the following factors:
- Demographics
- Injury report
- Treatment reports
- Progress notes
- Medication log
- Physician referral
- Report generation
- Insurance information and claims
- Calendar
- Exercise flow sheet
- Price and annual fee
Each system has specific strengths and weaknesses. If you want to learn more about injury-tracking programs, do an internet search for “comparison of injury-tracking programs” and track the changes that have occurred over the years as technology has expanded.Selecting a program that is useful and appropriate for the AT's individual program is critical.
Learn more about blood tests
Blood tests can detect many different conditions in the human body and are used extensively and frequently in health care. After the blood is collected and stored properly, it is sent to a laboratory to be processed for the specific test the doctor ordered.
Blood tests can detect many different conditions in the human body and are used extensively and frequently in health care. After the blood is collected and stored properly, it is sent to a laboratory to be processed for the specific test the doctor ordered. The most common blood work ordered is the complete blood count (CBC), which can detect conditions such as anemia (low iron count), infections, clotting problems, and other disorders. The CBC looks at the counts of red blood cells (RBC), which reflect oxygen-carrying capacity; white blood cells (WBC), which fight infection; platelets, which detect clotting issues; hemoglobin, which detects iron content; as well as hematocrit, which detects how much space the RBCs take up; and mean corpuscle volume, which detects the size of the RBCs.
Metabolic tests are also commonly ordered to detect the chemicals in the blood that indicate the health of the muscles, including the heart and other vital organs such as the kidneys and liver. The basic metabolic panel measures blood glucose (sugar), calcium, and electrolytes to help doctors determine the health and function of the body as a whole. Other common blood tests to detect heart conditions and health are called lipoprotein panels. A lipoprotein panel provides information about total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good cholesterol), and triglycerides. These specific tests are important to understand and manage, especially as one ages, to ensure heart health. Although there are many more blood tests that a physician may order, these are the ones most commonly seen in health care. Blood tests provide valuable information for the general doctor to consider and a ground for referral to specialists if abnormalities are found. A hematologist is a doctor who deals with disorders of the blood. Depending on the condition found, other specialists may get involved as well.
As competition to be the best in sport increases, athletes and others are more susceptible to the lure of using drugs to enhance their performance. Drug testing is used widely by many athletic organizations, including but not limited to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Olympic Committee, and the NFL, who have listed specific banned substances (www.ncaa.org/2017-18-ncaa-banned-drugs-list). Drug testing also used in the workplace of many health care facilities. It typically involves a urine test. Commonly tested drugs include steroids, stimulants, depressants, and marijuana.
As a member of the health care team, it is important to work collaboratively with the physicians to understand the potential tests that will be prescribed. The algorithm in figure 29.5 presents the basic flow of screening tests that are typically performed in sports medicine. Although these tests are commonly used, far more specific tests will be prescribed based on the preliminary findings of the more familiar tests. Understanding the type of test and the reason it is being prescribed helps ATs communicate with the physician and patient more effectively.
Figure 29.5 Drug testing algorithm.
What is an athletic trainer?
Athletic training is a profession dedicated to maintaining and improving the health and well-being of the physically active population and preventing athletic-related injuries and illnesses.
Athletic training is a profession dedicated to maintaining and improving the health and well-being of the physically active population and preventing athletic-related injuries and illnesses. Athletic trainers are defined as follows:
Health care professionals who render service or treatment, under the direction of or in collaboration with a physician, in accordance with their education and training and the states' statutes, rules and regulations. As a part of the health care team, services provided by ATs include injury and illness prevention, wellness promotion and education, emergent care, examination and clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention, and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. (National Athletic Trainers' Association n.d.a)
The credential for the certified athletic trainer (AT) is the ATC. The credential ATC after one's name is evidence that the person has the appropriate education and training to work as a certified AT. Although people have provided health care to injured athletes for centuries, it was not until 1991 that the American Medical Association formally recognized athletic training as an allied health care profession. The National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA), which is responsible for setting professional standards, was formed in 1950. The NATA Board of Certification (BOC) is responsible for conducting the national certification process.
In 2015, the BOC studied and established the various roles of the AT, which include the following practice domains (Henderson 2015):
- Injury and illness prevention and wellness protection. The prevention of athletic injuries and illness includes educating athletes and their families about potential risks of athletic participation and how to reduce them. Some items involved in managing the risk include preparticipation physical exams; proper strength and conditioning programs; proper equipment and equipment fitting; taping, bandaging, and bracing; and good nutrition.
- Examination, assessment, and diagnosis. The AT must be able to recognize the type of injury and its severity so that she will know how to treat it or when to refer the athlete to a physician.
- Immediate and emergency care. When an athlete is injured, the AT must be ready to respond with a standard of care that is effective for the emergency presented. The AT must be able to communicate with various providers and family under stressful conditions. He must maintain first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification through such organizations as the American Red Cross and the National Safety Council.
- Therapeutic intervention. After initial treatment, the AT directs the athlete through exercises and treatments to help her return to normal function. This is called rehabilitation. Reconditioning is getting the athlete back into physical shape for athletic participation.
- Health care administration and professional responsibility. ATs are often responsible for managing state-of-the-art facilities, so they must have the administrative skills necessary for preparing work and purchase orders and scheduling staff. Additionally, injuries, treatments, and rehabilitation progress must be documented accurately.
- Leadership, strategic planning, goal setting, and human resources. “The athletic training program will rely on skills in these areas to stay on the cutting edge of providing the best professional services on behalf of their athletes”(Henderson 2015).Technology changes rapidly, and ATs must continue their education to remain current with the latest developments in health care. To do so, they attend seminars, read journals, write articles and books, and conduct research. ATs must conduct themselves professionally and with integrity. No one likes receiving medical treatment from someone who is unprofessional. A professional understands that she cannot accomplish everything by herself, so she works as part of a sports medicine team.
Documentation and record keeping in athletic training
Data from injury reports should be recorded not only to reduce liability but also to track injury trends and make decisions about how best to treat these injuries. The benefit of computerized records is that they provide a database for future reference.
Data from injury reports should be recorded not only to reduce liability but also to track injury trends and make decisions about how best to treat these injuries. The benefit of computerized records is that they provide a database for future reference. These records can provide data regarding supply use, traffic flow in the athletic training room during peak times, specific injury patterns for each sport, rehabilitation equipment usage, and other valuable information that can be used to direct the functions in the athletic training room. In today's environment, numbers are powerful, and if the AT can prove that there is excessive need for perhaps another staff member or a new piece of equipment, the likelihood of acquiring support is stronger with numbers.
Records are also part of the legal system (see chapter 2). Documentation of everything that happens protects the athletic trainer throughout his career. That is why it is so important to have good, organized records that are prioritized and maintained regularly. Although one would hope to never need them in a legal case, records protect the AT and provide evidence of what was or was not done in a given situation.
Exactly which procedures must be documented is often debated. ATs should document any accident of which they are aware (even if it is not due to athletic participation), any treatment that an athlete receives, and the rehabilitation progress that an athlete makes. Many computer documentation or record-keeping systems are available to ATs. Computer systems make it easy to file injury reports, rehabilitation progress, and referral forms.
Records, in paper form, should be protected in locked file cabinets. Most systems require double locks, which means they are kept in a locked file cabinet behind a locked door. Computerized records should be secured through passwords, encryption, and other technical means. ATs should consult their technology experts to ensure appropriate security of all computerized records.
Accident and Injury Reports
Accident and injury reports contain vital information, including the athlete's name, the date of injury, the date of the report, the athlete's sport, the age of the athlete, and the body part that is injured. Additionally, the report must contain information about how the injury or accident occurred, whether it is a new or previous injury, and the AT's inspection and assessment information and signature. The report should also contain the AT's thoughts about the injury and record treatment such as ice application, splinting, or medical referral.
Go online to the Resources and Forms section of the web resource to find a printable injury report form.
Treatment Logs
Any treatment an athlete receives must be documented. Ice application, heat application, elastic wraps, stretching, strengthening, and so on must all be logged on a specific form.
Go online to the Resources and Forms section of the web resource to find a printable daily treatment log and treatment progress chart.
Rehabilitation Charts
Once an athlete has been injured, her injury assessed, and a proper rehabilitation program designed and implemented, it is essential that the AT document the athlete's progress. The AT must record the exact treatment received by the athlete, the date it was received, any problems or complaints, any changes in treatment, the athlete's response to treatment, and reevaluation data.
Injury-Tracking Systems
Injury-tracking systems have become very popular in athletic training. As athletic trainers try to prove their worth by getting national database information, computerized programs serve as the venue for compiling these records. Whether they are used exclusively for the AT program or as part of a larger initiative, injury-tracking systems provide valuable information for the athletic trainer. Although new systems emerge regularly, there are several that are quite popular in athletic training. Athletic Trainer System (ATS), SportsWare, Sports Injury Monitoring System (SIMS), SimTrack, NCAA, and Presagia Sports are the most prevalent software packages to date, and they have all been reviewed. When selecting a system, it is important to evaluate the following factors:
- Demographics
- Injury report
- Treatment reports
- Progress notes
- Medication log
- Physician referral
- Report generation
- Insurance information and claims
- Calendar
- Exercise flow sheet
- Price and annual fee
Each system has specific strengths and weaknesses. If you want to learn more about injury-tracking programs, do an internet search for “comparison of injury-tracking programs” and track the changes that have occurred over the years as technology has expanded.Selecting a program that is useful and appropriate for the AT's individual program is critical.
Learn more about blood tests
Blood tests can detect many different conditions in the human body and are used extensively and frequently in health care. After the blood is collected and stored properly, it is sent to a laboratory to be processed for the specific test the doctor ordered.
Blood tests can detect many different conditions in the human body and are used extensively and frequently in health care. After the blood is collected and stored properly, it is sent to a laboratory to be processed for the specific test the doctor ordered. The most common blood work ordered is the complete blood count (CBC), which can detect conditions such as anemia (low iron count), infections, clotting problems, and other disorders. The CBC looks at the counts of red blood cells (RBC), which reflect oxygen-carrying capacity; white blood cells (WBC), which fight infection; platelets, which detect clotting issues; hemoglobin, which detects iron content; as well as hematocrit, which detects how much space the RBCs take up; and mean corpuscle volume, which detects the size of the RBCs.
Metabolic tests are also commonly ordered to detect the chemicals in the blood that indicate the health of the muscles, including the heart and other vital organs such as the kidneys and liver. The basic metabolic panel measures blood glucose (sugar), calcium, and electrolytes to help doctors determine the health and function of the body as a whole. Other common blood tests to detect heart conditions and health are called lipoprotein panels. A lipoprotein panel provides information about total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good cholesterol), and triglycerides. These specific tests are important to understand and manage, especially as one ages, to ensure heart health. Although there are many more blood tests that a physician may order, these are the ones most commonly seen in health care. Blood tests provide valuable information for the general doctor to consider and a ground for referral to specialists if abnormalities are found. A hematologist is a doctor who deals with disorders of the blood. Depending on the condition found, other specialists may get involved as well.
As competition to be the best in sport increases, athletes and others are more susceptible to the lure of using drugs to enhance their performance. Drug testing is used widely by many athletic organizations, including but not limited to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Olympic Committee, and the NFL, who have listed specific banned substances (www.ncaa.org/2017-18-ncaa-banned-drugs-list). Drug testing also used in the workplace of many health care facilities. It typically involves a urine test. Commonly tested drugs include steroids, stimulants, depressants, and marijuana.
As a member of the health care team, it is important to work collaboratively with the physicians to understand the potential tests that will be prescribed. The algorithm in figure 29.5 presents the basic flow of screening tests that are typically performed in sports medicine. Although these tests are commonly used, far more specific tests will be prescribed based on the preliminary findings of the more familiar tests. Understanding the type of test and the reason it is being prescribed helps ATs communicate with the physician and patient more effectively.
Figure 29.5 Drug testing algorithm.
What is an athletic trainer?
Athletic training is a profession dedicated to maintaining and improving the health and well-being of the physically active population and preventing athletic-related injuries and illnesses.
Athletic training is a profession dedicated to maintaining and improving the health and well-being of the physically active population and preventing athletic-related injuries and illnesses. Athletic trainers are defined as follows:
Health care professionals who render service or treatment, under the direction of or in collaboration with a physician, in accordance with their education and training and the states' statutes, rules and regulations. As a part of the health care team, services provided by ATs include injury and illness prevention, wellness promotion and education, emergent care, examination and clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention, and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. (National Athletic Trainers' Association n.d.a)
The credential for the certified athletic trainer (AT) is the ATC. The credential ATC after one's name is evidence that the person has the appropriate education and training to work as a certified AT. Although people have provided health care to injured athletes for centuries, it was not until 1991 that the American Medical Association formally recognized athletic training as an allied health care profession. The National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA), which is responsible for setting professional standards, was formed in 1950. The NATA Board of Certification (BOC) is responsible for conducting the national certification process.
In 2015, the BOC studied and established the various roles of the AT, which include the following practice domains (Henderson 2015):
- Injury and illness prevention and wellness protection. The prevention of athletic injuries and illness includes educating athletes and their families about potential risks of athletic participation and how to reduce them. Some items involved in managing the risk include preparticipation physical exams; proper strength and conditioning programs; proper equipment and equipment fitting; taping, bandaging, and bracing; and good nutrition.
- Examination, assessment, and diagnosis. The AT must be able to recognize the type of injury and its severity so that she will know how to treat it or when to refer the athlete to a physician.
- Immediate and emergency care. When an athlete is injured, the AT must be ready to respond with a standard of care that is effective for the emergency presented. The AT must be able to communicate with various providers and family under stressful conditions. He must maintain first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification through such organizations as the American Red Cross and the National Safety Council.
- Therapeutic intervention. After initial treatment, the AT directs the athlete through exercises and treatments to help her return to normal function. This is called rehabilitation. Reconditioning is getting the athlete back into physical shape for athletic participation.
- Health care administration and professional responsibility. ATs are often responsible for managing state-of-the-art facilities, so they must have the administrative skills necessary for preparing work and purchase orders and scheduling staff. Additionally, injuries, treatments, and rehabilitation progress must be documented accurately.
- Leadership, strategic planning, goal setting, and human resources. “The athletic training program will rely on skills in these areas to stay on the cutting edge of providing the best professional services on behalf of their athletes”(Henderson 2015).Technology changes rapidly, and ATs must continue their education to remain current with the latest developments in health care. To do so, they attend seminars, read journals, write articles and books, and conduct research. ATs must conduct themselves professionally and with integrity. No one likes receiving medical treatment from someone who is unprofessional. A professional understands that she cannot accomplish everything by herself, so she works as part of a sports medicine team.
Documentation and record keeping in athletic training
Data from injury reports should be recorded not only to reduce liability but also to track injury trends and make decisions about how best to treat these injuries. The benefit of computerized records is that they provide a database for future reference.
Data from injury reports should be recorded not only to reduce liability but also to track injury trends and make decisions about how best to treat these injuries. The benefit of computerized records is that they provide a database for future reference. These records can provide data regarding supply use, traffic flow in the athletic training room during peak times, specific injury patterns for each sport, rehabilitation equipment usage, and other valuable information that can be used to direct the functions in the athletic training room. In today's environment, numbers are powerful, and if the AT can prove that there is excessive need for perhaps another staff member or a new piece of equipment, the likelihood of acquiring support is stronger with numbers.
Records are also part of the legal system (see chapter 2). Documentation of everything that happens protects the athletic trainer throughout his career. That is why it is so important to have good, organized records that are prioritized and maintained regularly. Although one would hope to never need them in a legal case, records protect the AT and provide evidence of what was or was not done in a given situation.
Exactly which procedures must be documented is often debated. ATs should document any accident of which they are aware (even if it is not due to athletic participation), any treatment that an athlete receives, and the rehabilitation progress that an athlete makes. Many computer documentation or record-keeping systems are available to ATs. Computer systems make it easy to file injury reports, rehabilitation progress, and referral forms.
Records, in paper form, should be protected in locked file cabinets. Most systems require double locks, which means they are kept in a locked file cabinet behind a locked door. Computerized records should be secured through passwords, encryption, and other technical means. ATs should consult their technology experts to ensure appropriate security of all computerized records.
Accident and Injury Reports
Accident and injury reports contain vital information, including the athlete's name, the date of injury, the date of the report, the athlete's sport, the age of the athlete, and the body part that is injured. Additionally, the report must contain information about how the injury or accident occurred, whether it is a new or previous injury, and the AT's inspection and assessment information and signature. The report should also contain the AT's thoughts about the injury and record treatment such as ice application, splinting, or medical referral.
Go online to the Resources and Forms section of the web resource to find a printable injury report form.
Treatment Logs
Any treatment an athlete receives must be documented. Ice application, heat application, elastic wraps, stretching, strengthening, and so on must all be logged on a specific form.
Go online to the Resources and Forms section of the web resource to find a printable daily treatment log and treatment progress chart.
Rehabilitation Charts
Once an athlete has been injured, her injury assessed, and a proper rehabilitation program designed and implemented, it is essential that the AT document the athlete's progress. The AT must record the exact treatment received by the athlete, the date it was received, any problems or complaints, any changes in treatment, the athlete's response to treatment, and reevaluation data.
Injury-Tracking Systems
Injury-tracking systems have become very popular in athletic training. As athletic trainers try to prove their worth by getting national database information, computerized programs serve as the venue for compiling these records. Whether they are used exclusively for the AT program or as part of a larger initiative, injury-tracking systems provide valuable information for the athletic trainer. Although new systems emerge regularly, there are several that are quite popular in athletic training. Athletic Trainer System (ATS), SportsWare, Sports Injury Monitoring System (SIMS), SimTrack, NCAA, and Presagia Sports are the most prevalent software packages to date, and they have all been reviewed. When selecting a system, it is important to evaluate the following factors:
- Demographics
- Injury report
- Treatment reports
- Progress notes
- Medication log
- Physician referral
- Report generation
- Insurance information and claims
- Calendar
- Exercise flow sheet
- Price and annual fee
Each system has specific strengths and weaknesses. If you want to learn more about injury-tracking programs, do an internet search for “comparison of injury-tracking programs” and track the changes that have occurred over the years as technology has expanded.Selecting a program that is useful and appropriate for the AT's individual program is critical.
Learn more about blood tests
Blood tests can detect many different conditions in the human body and are used extensively and frequently in health care. After the blood is collected and stored properly, it is sent to a laboratory to be processed for the specific test the doctor ordered.
Blood tests can detect many different conditions in the human body and are used extensively and frequently in health care. After the blood is collected and stored properly, it is sent to a laboratory to be processed for the specific test the doctor ordered. The most common blood work ordered is the complete blood count (CBC), which can detect conditions such as anemia (low iron count), infections, clotting problems, and other disorders. The CBC looks at the counts of red blood cells (RBC), which reflect oxygen-carrying capacity; white blood cells (WBC), which fight infection; platelets, which detect clotting issues; hemoglobin, which detects iron content; as well as hematocrit, which detects how much space the RBCs take up; and mean corpuscle volume, which detects the size of the RBCs.
Metabolic tests are also commonly ordered to detect the chemicals in the blood that indicate the health of the muscles, including the heart and other vital organs such as the kidneys and liver. The basic metabolic panel measures blood glucose (sugar), calcium, and electrolytes to help doctors determine the health and function of the body as a whole. Other common blood tests to detect heart conditions and health are called lipoprotein panels. A lipoprotein panel provides information about total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good cholesterol), and triglycerides. These specific tests are important to understand and manage, especially as one ages, to ensure heart health. Although there are many more blood tests that a physician may order, these are the ones most commonly seen in health care. Blood tests provide valuable information for the general doctor to consider and a ground for referral to specialists if abnormalities are found. A hematologist is a doctor who deals with disorders of the blood. Depending on the condition found, other specialists may get involved as well.
As competition to be the best in sport increases, athletes and others are more susceptible to the lure of using drugs to enhance their performance. Drug testing is used widely by many athletic organizations, including but not limited to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Olympic Committee, and the NFL, who have listed specific banned substances (www.ncaa.org/2017-18-ncaa-banned-drugs-list). Drug testing also used in the workplace of many health care facilities. It typically involves a urine test. Commonly tested drugs include steroids, stimulants, depressants, and marijuana.
As a member of the health care team, it is important to work collaboratively with the physicians to understand the potential tests that will be prescribed. The algorithm in figure 29.5 presents the basic flow of screening tests that are typically performed in sports medicine. Although these tests are commonly used, far more specific tests will be prescribed based on the preliminary findings of the more familiar tests. Understanding the type of test and the reason it is being prescribed helps ATs communicate with the physician and patient more effectively.
Figure 29.5 Drug testing algorithm.
What is an athletic trainer?
Athletic training is a profession dedicated to maintaining and improving the health and well-being of the physically active population and preventing athletic-related injuries and illnesses.
Athletic training is a profession dedicated to maintaining and improving the health and well-being of the physically active population and preventing athletic-related injuries and illnesses. Athletic trainers are defined as follows:
Health care professionals who render service or treatment, under the direction of or in collaboration with a physician, in accordance with their education and training and the states' statutes, rules and regulations. As a part of the health care team, services provided by ATs include injury and illness prevention, wellness promotion and education, emergent care, examination and clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention, and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. (National Athletic Trainers' Association n.d.a)
The credential for the certified athletic trainer (AT) is the ATC. The credential ATC after one's name is evidence that the person has the appropriate education and training to work as a certified AT. Although people have provided health care to injured athletes for centuries, it was not until 1991 that the American Medical Association formally recognized athletic training as an allied health care profession. The National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA), which is responsible for setting professional standards, was formed in 1950. The NATA Board of Certification (BOC) is responsible for conducting the national certification process.
In 2015, the BOC studied and established the various roles of the AT, which include the following practice domains (Henderson 2015):
- Injury and illness prevention and wellness protection. The prevention of athletic injuries and illness includes educating athletes and their families about potential risks of athletic participation and how to reduce them. Some items involved in managing the risk include preparticipation physical exams; proper strength and conditioning programs; proper equipment and equipment fitting; taping, bandaging, and bracing; and good nutrition.
- Examination, assessment, and diagnosis. The AT must be able to recognize the type of injury and its severity so that she will know how to treat it or when to refer the athlete to a physician.
- Immediate and emergency care. When an athlete is injured, the AT must be ready to respond with a standard of care that is effective for the emergency presented. The AT must be able to communicate with various providers and family under stressful conditions. He must maintain first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification through such organizations as the American Red Cross and the National Safety Council.
- Therapeutic intervention. After initial treatment, the AT directs the athlete through exercises and treatments to help her return to normal function. This is called rehabilitation. Reconditioning is getting the athlete back into physical shape for athletic participation.
- Health care administration and professional responsibility. ATs are often responsible for managing state-of-the-art facilities, so they must have the administrative skills necessary for preparing work and purchase orders and scheduling staff. Additionally, injuries, treatments, and rehabilitation progress must be documented accurately.
- Leadership, strategic planning, goal setting, and human resources. “The athletic training program will rely on skills in these areas to stay on the cutting edge of providing the best professional services on behalf of their athletes”(Henderson 2015).Technology changes rapidly, and ATs must continue their education to remain current with the latest developments in health care. To do so, they attend seminars, read journals, write articles and books, and conduct research. ATs must conduct themselves professionally and with integrity. No one likes receiving medical treatment from someone who is unprofessional. A professional understands that she cannot accomplish everything by herself, so she works as part of a sports medicine team.
Documentation and record keeping in athletic training
Data from injury reports should be recorded not only to reduce liability but also to track injury trends and make decisions about how best to treat these injuries. The benefit of computerized records is that they provide a database for future reference.
Data from injury reports should be recorded not only to reduce liability but also to track injury trends and make decisions about how best to treat these injuries. The benefit of computerized records is that they provide a database for future reference. These records can provide data regarding supply use, traffic flow in the athletic training room during peak times, specific injury patterns for each sport, rehabilitation equipment usage, and other valuable information that can be used to direct the functions in the athletic training room. In today's environment, numbers are powerful, and if the AT can prove that there is excessive need for perhaps another staff member or a new piece of equipment, the likelihood of acquiring support is stronger with numbers.
Records are also part of the legal system (see chapter 2). Documentation of everything that happens protects the athletic trainer throughout his career. That is why it is so important to have good, organized records that are prioritized and maintained regularly. Although one would hope to never need them in a legal case, records protect the AT and provide evidence of what was or was not done in a given situation.
Exactly which procedures must be documented is often debated. ATs should document any accident of which they are aware (even if it is not due to athletic participation), any treatment that an athlete receives, and the rehabilitation progress that an athlete makes. Many computer documentation or record-keeping systems are available to ATs. Computer systems make it easy to file injury reports, rehabilitation progress, and referral forms.
Records, in paper form, should be protected in locked file cabinets. Most systems require double locks, which means they are kept in a locked file cabinet behind a locked door. Computerized records should be secured through passwords, encryption, and other technical means. ATs should consult their technology experts to ensure appropriate security of all computerized records.
Accident and Injury Reports
Accident and injury reports contain vital information, including the athlete's name, the date of injury, the date of the report, the athlete's sport, the age of the athlete, and the body part that is injured. Additionally, the report must contain information about how the injury or accident occurred, whether it is a new or previous injury, and the AT's inspection and assessment information and signature. The report should also contain the AT's thoughts about the injury and record treatment such as ice application, splinting, or medical referral.
Go online to the Resources and Forms section of the web resource to find a printable injury report form.
Treatment Logs
Any treatment an athlete receives must be documented. Ice application, heat application, elastic wraps, stretching, strengthening, and so on must all be logged on a specific form.
Go online to the Resources and Forms section of the web resource to find a printable daily treatment log and treatment progress chart.
Rehabilitation Charts
Once an athlete has been injured, her injury assessed, and a proper rehabilitation program designed and implemented, it is essential that the AT document the athlete's progress. The AT must record the exact treatment received by the athlete, the date it was received, any problems or complaints, any changes in treatment, the athlete's response to treatment, and reevaluation data.
Injury-Tracking Systems
Injury-tracking systems have become very popular in athletic training. As athletic trainers try to prove their worth by getting national database information, computerized programs serve as the venue for compiling these records. Whether they are used exclusively for the AT program or as part of a larger initiative, injury-tracking systems provide valuable information for the athletic trainer. Although new systems emerge regularly, there are several that are quite popular in athletic training. Athletic Trainer System (ATS), SportsWare, Sports Injury Monitoring System (SIMS), SimTrack, NCAA, and Presagia Sports are the most prevalent software packages to date, and they have all been reviewed. When selecting a system, it is important to evaluate the following factors:
- Demographics
- Injury report
- Treatment reports
- Progress notes
- Medication log
- Physician referral
- Report generation
- Insurance information and claims
- Calendar
- Exercise flow sheet
- Price and annual fee
Each system has specific strengths and weaknesses. If you want to learn more about injury-tracking programs, do an internet search for “comparison of injury-tracking programs” and track the changes that have occurred over the years as technology has expanded.Selecting a program that is useful and appropriate for the AT's individual program is critical.
Learn more about blood tests
Blood tests can detect many different conditions in the human body and are used extensively and frequently in health care. After the blood is collected and stored properly, it is sent to a laboratory to be processed for the specific test the doctor ordered.
Blood tests can detect many different conditions in the human body and are used extensively and frequently in health care. After the blood is collected and stored properly, it is sent to a laboratory to be processed for the specific test the doctor ordered. The most common blood work ordered is the complete blood count (CBC), which can detect conditions such as anemia (low iron count), infections, clotting problems, and other disorders. The CBC looks at the counts of red blood cells (RBC), which reflect oxygen-carrying capacity; white blood cells (WBC), which fight infection; platelets, which detect clotting issues; hemoglobin, which detects iron content; as well as hematocrit, which detects how much space the RBCs take up; and mean corpuscle volume, which detects the size of the RBCs.
Metabolic tests are also commonly ordered to detect the chemicals in the blood that indicate the health of the muscles, including the heart and other vital organs such as the kidneys and liver. The basic metabolic panel measures blood glucose (sugar), calcium, and electrolytes to help doctors determine the health and function of the body as a whole. Other common blood tests to detect heart conditions and health are called lipoprotein panels. A lipoprotein panel provides information about total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good cholesterol), and triglycerides. These specific tests are important to understand and manage, especially as one ages, to ensure heart health. Although there are many more blood tests that a physician may order, these are the ones most commonly seen in health care. Blood tests provide valuable information for the general doctor to consider and a ground for referral to specialists if abnormalities are found. A hematologist is a doctor who deals with disorders of the blood. Depending on the condition found, other specialists may get involved as well.
As competition to be the best in sport increases, athletes and others are more susceptible to the lure of using drugs to enhance their performance. Drug testing is used widely by many athletic organizations, including but not limited to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Olympic Committee, and the NFL, who have listed specific banned substances (www.ncaa.org/2017-18-ncaa-banned-drugs-list). Drug testing also used in the workplace of many health care facilities. It typically involves a urine test. Commonly tested drugs include steroids, stimulants, depressants, and marijuana.
As a member of the health care team, it is important to work collaboratively with the physicians to understand the potential tests that will be prescribed. The algorithm in figure 29.5 presents the basic flow of screening tests that are typically performed in sports medicine. Although these tests are commonly used, far more specific tests will be prescribed based on the preliminary findings of the more familiar tests. Understanding the type of test and the reason it is being prescribed helps ATs communicate with the physician and patient more effectively.
Figure 29.5 Drug testing algorithm.
What is an athletic trainer?
Athletic training is a profession dedicated to maintaining and improving the health and well-being of the physically active population and preventing athletic-related injuries and illnesses.
Athletic training is a profession dedicated to maintaining and improving the health and well-being of the physically active population and preventing athletic-related injuries and illnesses. Athletic trainers are defined as follows:
Health care professionals who render service or treatment, under the direction of or in collaboration with a physician, in accordance with their education and training and the states' statutes, rules and regulations. As a part of the health care team, services provided by ATs include injury and illness prevention, wellness promotion and education, emergent care, examination and clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention, and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. (National Athletic Trainers' Association n.d.a)
The credential for the certified athletic trainer (AT) is the ATC. The credential ATC after one's name is evidence that the person has the appropriate education and training to work as a certified AT. Although people have provided health care to injured athletes for centuries, it was not until 1991 that the American Medical Association formally recognized athletic training as an allied health care profession. The National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA), which is responsible for setting professional standards, was formed in 1950. The NATA Board of Certification (BOC) is responsible for conducting the national certification process.
In 2015, the BOC studied and established the various roles of the AT, which include the following practice domains (Henderson 2015):
- Injury and illness prevention and wellness protection. The prevention of athletic injuries and illness includes educating athletes and their families about potential risks of athletic participation and how to reduce them. Some items involved in managing the risk include preparticipation physical exams; proper strength and conditioning programs; proper equipment and equipment fitting; taping, bandaging, and bracing; and good nutrition.
- Examination, assessment, and diagnosis. The AT must be able to recognize the type of injury and its severity so that she will know how to treat it or when to refer the athlete to a physician.
- Immediate and emergency care. When an athlete is injured, the AT must be ready to respond with a standard of care that is effective for the emergency presented. The AT must be able to communicate with various providers and family under stressful conditions. He must maintain first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification through such organizations as the American Red Cross and the National Safety Council.
- Therapeutic intervention. After initial treatment, the AT directs the athlete through exercises and treatments to help her return to normal function. This is called rehabilitation. Reconditioning is getting the athlete back into physical shape for athletic participation.
- Health care administration and professional responsibility. ATs are often responsible for managing state-of-the-art facilities, so they must have the administrative skills necessary for preparing work and purchase orders and scheduling staff. Additionally, injuries, treatments, and rehabilitation progress must be documented accurately.
- Leadership, strategic planning, goal setting, and human resources. “The athletic training program will rely on skills in these areas to stay on the cutting edge of providing the best professional services on behalf of their athletes”(Henderson 2015).Technology changes rapidly, and ATs must continue their education to remain current with the latest developments in health care. To do so, they attend seminars, read journals, write articles and books, and conduct research. ATs must conduct themselves professionally and with integrity. No one likes receiving medical treatment from someone who is unprofessional. A professional understands that she cannot accomplish everything by herself, so she works as part of a sports medicine team.
Documentation and record keeping in athletic training
Data from injury reports should be recorded not only to reduce liability but also to track injury trends and make decisions about how best to treat these injuries. The benefit of computerized records is that they provide a database for future reference.
Data from injury reports should be recorded not only to reduce liability but also to track injury trends and make decisions about how best to treat these injuries. The benefit of computerized records is that they provide a database for future reference. These records can provide data regarding supply use, traffic flow in the athletic training room during peak times, specific injury patterns for each sport, rehabilitation equipment usage, and other valuable information that can be used to direct the functions in the athletic training room. In today's environment, numbers are powerful, and if the AT can prove that there is excessive need for perhaps another staff member or a new piece of equipment, the likelihood of acquiring support is stronger with numbers.
Records are also part of the legal system (see chapter 2). Documentation of everything that happens protects the athletic trainer throughout his career. That is why it is so important to have good, organized records that are prioritized and maintained regularly. Although one would hope to never need them in a legal case, records protect the AT and provide evidence of what was or was not done in a given situation.
Exactly which procedures must be documented is often debated. ATs should document any accident of which they are aware (even if it is not due to athletic participation), any treatment that an athlete receives, and the rehabilitation progress that an athlete makes. Many computer documentation or record-keeping systems are available to ATs. Computer systems make it easy to file injury reports, rehabilitation progress, and referral forms.
Records, in paper form, should be protected in locked file cabinets. Most systems require double locks, which means they are kept in a locked file cabinet behind a locked door. Computerized records should be secured through passwords, encryption, and other technical means. ATs should consult their technology experts to ensure appropriate security of all computerized records.
Accident and Injury Reports
Accident and injury reports contain vital information, including the athlete's name, the date of injury, the date of the report, the athlete's sport, the age of the athlete, and the body part that is injured. Additionally, the report must contain information about how the injury or accident occurred, whether it is a new or previous injury, and the AT's inspection and assessment information and signature. The report should also contain the AT's thoughts about the injury and record treatment such as ice application, splinting, or medical referral.
Go online to the Resources and Forms section of the web resource to find a printable injury report form.
Treatment Logs
Any treatment an athlete receives must be documented. Ice application, heat application, elastic wraps, stretching, strengthening, and so on must all be logged on a specific form.
Go online to the Resources and Forms section of the web resource to find a printable daily treatment log and treatment progress chart.
Rehabilitation Charts
Once an athlete has been injured, her injury assessed, and a proper rehabilitation program designed and implemented, it is essential that the AT document the athlete's progress. The AT must record the exact treatment received by the athlete, the date it was received, any problems or complaints, any changes in treatment, the athlete's response to treatment, and reevaluation data.
Injury-Tracking Systems
Injury-tracking systems have become very popular in athletic training. As athletic trainers try to prove their worth by getting national database information, computerized programs serve as the venue for compiling these records. Whether they are used exclusively for the AT program or as part of a larger initiative, injury-tracking systems provide valuable information for the athletic trainer. Although new systems emerge regularly, there are several that are quite popular in athletic training. Athletic Trainer System (ATS), SportsWare, Sports Injury Monitoring System (SIMS), SimTrack, NCAA, and Presagia Sports are the most prevalent software packages to date, and they have all been reviewed. When selecting a system, it is important to evaluate the following factors:
- Demographics
- Injury report
- Treatment reports
- Progress notes
- Medication log
- Physician referral
- Report generation
- Insurance information and claims
- Calendar
- Exercise flow sheet
- Price and annual fee
Each system has specific strengths and weaknesses. If you want to learn more about injury-tracking programs, do an internet search for “comparison of injury-tracking programs” and track the changes that have occurred over the years as technology has expanded.Selecting a program that is useful and appropriate for the AT's individual program is critical.
Learn more about blood tests
Blood tests can detect many different conditions in the human body and are used extensively and frequently in health care. After the blood is collected and stored properly, it is sent to a laboratory to be processed for the specific test the doctor ordered.
Blood tests can detect many different conditions in the human body and are used extensively and frequently in health care. After the blood is collected and stored properly, it is sent to a laboratory to be processed for the specific test the doctor ordered. The most common blood work ordered is the complete blood count (CBC), which can detect conditions such as anemia (low iron count), infections, clotting problems, and other disorders. The CBC looks at the counts of red blood cells (RBC), which reflect oxygen-carrying capacity; white blood cells (WBC), which fight infection; platelets, which detect clotting issues; hemoglobin, which detects iron content; as well as hematocrit, which detects how much space the RBCs take up; and mean corpuscle volume, which detects the size of the RBCs.
Metabolic tests are also commonly ordered to detect the chemicals in the blood that indicate the health of the muscles, including the heart and other vital organs such as the kidneys and liver. The basic metabolic panel measures blood glucose (sugar), calcium, and electrolytes to help doctors determine the health and function of the body as a whole. Other common blood tests to detect heart conditions and health are called lipoprotein panels. A lipoprotein panel provides information about total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good cholesterol), and triglycerides. These specific tests are important to understand and manage, especially as one ages, to ensure heart health. Although there are many more blood tests that a physician may order, these are the ones most commonly seen in health care. Blood tests provide valuable information for the general doctor to consider and a ground for referral to specialists if abnormalities are found. A hematologist is a doctor who deals with disorders of the blood. Depending on the condition found, other specialists may get involved as well.
As competition to be the best in sport increases, athletes and others are more susceptible to the lure of using drugs to enhance their performance. Drug testing is used widely by many athletic organizations, including but not limited to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Olympic Committee, and the NFL, who have listed specific banned substances (www.ncaa.org/2017-18-ncaa-banned-drugs-list). Drug testing also used in the workplace of many health care facilities. It typically involves a urine test. Commonly tested drugs include steroids, stimulants, depressants, and marijuana.
As a member of the health care team, it is important to work collaboratively with the physicians to understand the potential tests that will be prescribed. The algorithm in figure 29.5 presents the basic flow of screening tests that are typically performed in sports medicine. Although these tests are commonly used, far more specific tests will be prescribed based on the preliminary findings of the more familiar tests. Understanding the type of test and the reason it is being prescribed helps ATs communicate with the physician and patient more effectively.
Figure 29.5 Drug testing algorithm.
What is an athletic trainer?
Athletic training is a profession dedicated to maintaining and improving the health and well-being of the physically active population and preventing athletic-related injuries and illnesses.
Athletic training is a profession dedicated to maintaining and improving the health and well-being of the physically active population and preventing athletic-related injuries and illnesses. Athletic trainers are defined as follows:
Health care professionals who render service or treatment, under the direction of or in collaboration with a physician, in accordance with their education and training and the states' statutes, rules and regulations. As a part of the health care team, services provided by ATs include injury and illness prevention, wellness promotion and education, emergent care, examination and clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention, and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. (National Athletic Trainers' Association n.d.a)
The credential for the certified athletic trainer (AT) is the ATC. The credential ATC after one's name is evidence that the person has the appropriate education and training to work as a certified AT. Although people have provided health care to injured athletes for centuries, it was not until 1991 that the American Medical Association formally recognized athletic training as an allied health care profession. The National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA), which is responsible for setting professional standards, was formed in 1950. The NATA Board of Certification (BOC) is responsible for conducting the national certification process.
In 2015, the BOC studied and established the various roles of the AT, which include the following practice domains (Henderson 2015):
- Injury and illness prevention and wellness protection. The prevention of athletic injuries and illness includes educating athletes and their families about potential risks of athletic participation and how to reduce them. Some items involved in managing the risk include preparticipation physical exams; proper strength and conditioning programs; proper equipment and equipment fitting; taping, bandaging, and bracing; and good nutrition.
- Examination, assessment, and diagnosis. The AT must be able to recognize the type of injury and its severity so that she will know how to treat it or when to refer the athlete to a physician.
- Immediate and emergency care. When an athlete is injured, the AT must be ready to respond with a standard of care that is effective for the emergency presented. The AT must be able to communicate with various providers and family under stressful conditions. He must maintain first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification through such organizations as the American Red Cross and the National Safety Council.
- Therapeutic intervention. After initial treatment, the AT directs the athlete through exercises and treatments to help her return to normal function. This is called rehabilitation. Reconditioning is getting the athlete back into physical shape for athletic participation.
- Health care administration and professional responsibility. ATs are often responsible for managing state-of-the-art facilities, so they must have the administrative skills necessary for preparing work and purchase orders and scheduling staff. Additionally, injuries, treatments, and rehabilitation progress must be documented accurately.
- Leadership, strategic planning, goal setting, and human resources. “The athletic training program will rely on skills in these areas to stay on the cutting edge of providing the best professional services on behalf of their athletes”(Henderson 2015).Technology changes rapidly, and ATs must continue their education to remain current with the latest developments in health care. To do so, they attend seminars, read journals, write articles and books, and conduct research. ATs must conduct themselves professionally and with integrity. No one likes receiving medical treatment from someone who is unprofessional. A professional understands that she cannot accomplish everything by herself, so she works as part of a sports medicine team.
Documentation and record keeping in athletic training
Data from injury reports should be recorded not only to reduce liability but also to track injury trends and make decisions about how best to treat these injuries. The benefit of computerized records is that they provide a database for future reference.
Data from injury reports should be recorded not only to reduce liability but also to track injury trends and make decisions about how best to treat these injuries. The benefit of computerized records is that they provide a database for future reference. These records can provide data regarding supply use, traffic flow in the athletic training room during peak times, specific injury patterns for each sport, rehabilitation equipment usage, and other valuable information that can be used to direct the functions in the athletic training room. In today's environment, numbers are powerful, and if the AT can prove that there is excessive need for perhaps another staff member or a new piece of equipment, the likelihood of acquiring support is stronger with numbers.
Records are also part of the legal system (see chapter 2). Documentation of everything that happens protects the athletic trainer throughout his career. That is why it is so important to have good, organized records that are prioritized and maintained regularly. Although one would hope to never need them in a legal case, records protect the AT and provide evidence of what was or was not done in a given situation.
Exactly which procedures must be documented is often debated. ATs should document any accident of which they are aware (even if it is not due to athletic participation), any treatment that an athlete receives, and the rehabilitation progress that an athlete makes. Many computer documentation or record-keeping systems are available to ATs. Computer systems make it easy to file injury reports, rehabilitation progress, and referral forms.
Records, in paper form, should be protected in locked file cabinets. Most systems require double locks, which means they are kept in a locked file cabinet behind a locked door. Computerized records should be secured through passwords, encryption, and other technical means. ATs should consult their technology experts to ensure appropriate security of all computerized records.
Accident and Injury Reports
Accident and injury reports contain vital information, including the athlete's name, the date of injury, the date of the report, the athlete's sport, the age of the athlete, and the body part that is injured. Additionally, the report must contain information about how the injury or accident occurred, whether it is a new or previous injury, and the AT's inspection and assessment information and signature. The report should also contain the AT's thoughts about the injury and record treatment such as ice application, splinting, or medical referral.
Go online to the Resources and Forms section of the web resource to find a printable injury report form.
Treatment Logs
Any treatment an athlete receives must be documented. Ice application, heat application, elastic wraps, stretching, strengthening, and so on must all be logged on a specific form.
Go online to the Resources and Forms section of the web resource to find a printable daily treatment log and treatment progress chart.
Rehabilitation Charts
Once an athlete has been injured, her injury assessed, and a proper rehabilitation program designed and implemented, it is essential that the AT document the athlete's progress. The AT must record the exact treatment received by the athlete, the date it was received, any problems or complaints, any changes in treatment, the athlete's response to treatment, and reevaluation data.
Injury-Tracking Systems
Injury-tracking systems have become very popular in athletic training. As athletic trainers try to prove their worth by getting national database information, computerized programs serve as the venue for compiling these records. Whether they are used exclusively for the AT program or as part of a larger initiative, injury-tracking systems provide valuable information for the athletic trainer. Although new systems emerge regularly, there are several that are quite popular in athletic training. Athletic Trainer System (ATS), SportsWare, Sports Injury Monitoring System (SIMS), SimTrack, NCAA, and Presagia Sports are the most prevalent software packages to date, and they have all been reviewed. When selecting a system, it is important to evaluate the following factors:
- Demographics
- Injury report
- Treatment reports
- Progress notes
- Medication log
- Physician referral
- Report generation
- Insurance information and claims
- Calendar
- Exercise flow sheet
- Price and annual fee
Each system has specific strengths and weaknesses. If you want to learn more about injury-tracking programs, do an internet search for “comparison of injury-tracking programs” and track the changes that have occurred over the years as technology has expanded.Selecting a program that is useful and appropriate for the AT's individual program is critical.
Learn more about blood tests
Blood tests can detect many different conditions in the human body and are used extensively and frequently in health care. After the blood is collected and stored properly, it is sent to a laboratory to be processed for the specific test the doctor ordered.
Blood tests can detect many different conditions in the human body and are used extensively and frequently in health care. After the blood is collected and stored properly, it is sent to a laboratory to be processed for the specific test the doctor ordered. The most common blood work ordered is the complete blood count (CBC), which can detect conditions such as anemia (low iron count), infections, clotting problems, and other disorders. The CBC looks at the counts of red blood cells (RBC), which reflect oxygen-carrying capacity; white blood cells (WBC), which fight infection; platelets, which detect clotting issues; hemoglobin, which detects iron content; as well as hematocrit, which detects how much space the RBCs take up; and mean corpuscle volume, which detects the size of the RBCs.
Metabolic tests are also commonly ordered to detect the chemicals in the blood that indicate the health of the muscles, including the heart and other vital organs such as the kidneys and liver. The basic metabolic panel measures blood glucose (sugar), calcium, and electrolytes to help doctors determine the health and function of the body as a whole. Other common blood tests to detect heart conditions and health are called lipoprotein panels. A lipoprotein panel provides information about total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good cholesterol), and triglycerides. These specific tests are important to understand and manage, especially as one ages, to ensure heart health. Although there are many more blood tests that a physician may order, these are the ones most commonly seen in health care. Blood tests provide valuable information for the general doctor to consider and a ground for referral to specialists if abnormalities are found. A hematologist is a doctor who deals with disorders of the blood. Depending on the condition found, other specialists may get involved as well.
As competition to be the best in sport increases, athletes and others are more susceptible to the lure of using drugs to enhance their performance. Drug testing is used widely by many athletic organizations, including but not limited to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Olympic Committee, and the NFL, who have listed specific banned substances (www.ncaa.org/2017-18-ncaa-banned-drugs-list). Drug testing also used in the workplace of many health care facilities. It typically involves a urine test. Commonly tested drugs include steroids, stimulants, depressants, and marijuana.
As a member of the health care team, it is important to work collaboratively with the physicians to understand the potential tests that will be prescribed. The algorithm in figure 29.5 presents the basic flow of screening tests that are typically performed in sports medicine. Although these tests are commonly used, far more specific tests will be prescribed based on the preliminary findings of the more familiar tests. Understanding the type of test and the reason it is being prescribed helps ATs communicate with the physician and patient more effectively.
Figure 29.5 Drug testing algorithm.
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