Testimonials from employers and friends
Legislators and Regulators
As a state legislator concerned with health policy, affordable and accessible health care for all people is my primary concern. We must look for innovative solutions to providing health care because of the increasing shortages of nurses and other health care workers. One of the best ways to deliver health care services in the community is to better utilize certified athletic trainers. Athletic trainers are multi-skilled allied health care professionals who provide a unique combination of injury and illness treatment and rehabilitation with a substantial dose of injury prevention and general wellness.
Occupational and Industrial
"Our company has had a certified athletic trainer on site since 2000 and since that time we have recognized the tremendous upside in the tangible and intangible benefits of this addition, including a savings of more than $245,000 in just 2002 alone in health care-related expenditures. We have also experienced a decrease of 67% for health care costs related to the low back and 62% for costs to the upper extremity. Additionally, our days away from work have decreased by 60% in the last 3 years. In the industrial setting these results can be best accomplished by an individual with the medical knowledge and training of an athletic trainer. We wouldn't have it any other way and will continue this program for the long term."
"The certified athletic trainer (ATC) is my first choice for on-site healthcare for our insureds. The clinical skills for treating MSD, first aid knowledge and ability to develop health/wellness programs make the ATC extremely valuable. Maybe most importantly, the ATC understands motivation and the psychology of performance. That seems to make a big difference. I'm designing risk control strategies based on the Sports Medicine model, and the ATC is central to that model."
"I always believed that the ATC was a perfect fit for industry because of the very nature of the injuries being musculoskeletal. The early intervention of sprains and strains by an ATC has a huge impact on cost. Athletic trainers also fit this setting because of their training and ergonomic curiosity. ATCs find out why injuries happen and then come up with creative ways to treat and train the "industrial athlete" who has to work 8+ hours a day not just a 2 hour practice."
Physicians, Hospitals and Clinics
" I am a Pediatrician who specializes in Pediatric Emergency Medicine and have a personal interest in Sports Medicine. I have had the opportunity to work closely with Athletic Trainers as the mother of three teenage athletes. I have relied on them to provide the guidance for rehabbing injuries, for taping joints and providing guidance to prevent re-injury. I have also witnessed Athletic Trainers on the sidelines/court side making quick assessments of severity of injury and initiating therapy to prevent further injury."
"Professionally I have had the honor of working with an experienced Athletic Trainer as part of our comprehensive Sports Medicine program. This athletic trainer is a vital part of the assessment, therapeutic and educational team. Not only does she teach the patients/parents about the injury and rehab program but she plays a crucial part in the education of medical students, residents and fellows. Education of pediatric residents in the area of Sports Medicine is fundamentally important as more and more young children are becoming year-round athletes. Our Athletic Trainer provides the expertise we need when dealing with these young athletes."
"I am a primary care sports medicine specialist and I work in the high school, college and clinic settings in sports medicine. I have worked closely with athletic trainers for 18 years. Athletic trainers play an indispensable role in the care of athletes in all of those settings. In the high school setting, the athletic trainers are frequently the main point person in initially evaluating and treating sports injuries. Athletic trainers have to be well-versed in treating problems from blisters to life-threatening problems such as heat illness and cardiac arrest. The key component is preparation for the worst problems that can occur."
"Athletic trainers need to disseminate information in an understandable way for parents, athletes and coaches. They play an essential role in patient information in the world of sports medicine. They also oversee rehabilitation, appropriate strength conditioning and nutritional programs." "In summary, athletic trainers are an essential part of the health care team in sports medicine. They play a central role both by their actions and their preparation."
"The educational background of a certified athletic trainer is the perfect preparation for assisting an orthopaedic surgeon. The knowledge of musculoskeletal anatomy, function and clinical experience in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders is virtually unmatched, even amongst medical students. I believe that ATCs are the best physician extenders, and I use them in that role daily."
"I realized early on in my career that ATCs are the only health care professionals who devote their entire education and professional lives to taking care of active people. My patients experience excellent outcomes as a result of therapy provided by ATCs. My patients love working with them. ATCs are a value added service to my practice. I could not do without them."
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