NATA Now

Athletic training is not a stagnant profession. The people drawn into the profession are naturally movers, innovators and forward thinkers – so it’s no surprise that a profession full of people on the move is constantly moving. As athletic trainers become globally recognized health care providers, many settings want to capture the skills and expertise ATs bring. One of these settings is free-standing orthopedic urgent care clinics.

Earlier this week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act as part of a larger Health Savings Account bill package (H.R. 6199) by a vote of 277 to 142. The bill now awaits Senate action. 

The PHIT Act would allow Americans to use tax-free accounts like HSAs and Flexible Spending Accounts to pay for qualified fitness expenses, including health club memberships, sports safety equipment, and youth sports fees. The amounts that would be available are $500 for individuals and $1,000 for families. 

By Marty Matney, MBA, LAT, ATC, Chair, Council on Practice Advancement

At NATA 2018, NATA launched the At Your Own Risk Share Your Story campaign. Share Your Story is an advocacy content campaign that features interviews with influential athletes, coaches and sports medicine specialists discussing various topics related to sports and safety. Participants like Kobe Bryant, Dr. James Andrews and Philip Rivers share their thoughts on what the role of a parent should be based on their own professional and personal experiences. 

An Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is a document that all ATs should create for their workplace.  After reviewing and updating your venue-specific EAPs, set up a meeting with your administrators and coaches to ensure that everyone knows the plan in case of an emergency.  For more information about EAPs read NATA Position Statement: Emergency Planning in Athletics and Practice Makes Perfect.  

The July NATA News is all about nutrition and its important role in athlete health and well-being. Often times, there are questions about what to eat prior to, during and after activities. To help answer this question, NATA and SCAN teamed up to create the Nutrition Clock infographic handout. This handout details what nutrients are needs during each stage of activities and which foods best deliver these nutrients.

Something rather rare happened Thursday, June 28, during the 69th NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo: All 13 living NATA presidents came together for the Hall of Fame Breakfast – including outgoing NATA President Scott Sailor, EdD, ATC, and incoming NATA President Tory Lindley, MA, ATC.

Photo Caption: NATA International Committee Chair Brian Zeller, PhD, ATC, presents Yoshizumi "Happy" Iwasaki, ATC, with the 2018 International Service Award Thursday, June 28.

Members from all over the world have made the journey to New Orleans to take part in the 69th NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo. For one athletic trainer in particular, that journey consisted of a 15-plus-hour flight – the same flight he’s been making for the more than three decades.

Photo caption: New District Directors Craig Voll Jr., PhD, LAT, ATC, District Four; Lyn Nakagawa, MS, ATC, CSCS, District Eight; Diane Sartanowicz, MS, LAT, ATC, District One; and David Gallegos, MA, ATC, Cert. MDT, District Seven.

When NATA Hall of Famer Lindsy McLean, AT Ret., was asked to be the keynote speaker of this year’s NATA Political Action Committee Breakfast, held June 27, he had to think about it. He made his mind up, however, when his latest NATA membership card came in the mail.

“It said ‘member for 59 years,’ and I said, ‘Man, that’s a long time. I guess I can talk about that,’” he said.