The Athletic Trainer and the Physically Active

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Public safety, injury and illness prevention, and early intervention are keystones to the practice of athletic training.  Athletic Trainers are health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to optimize activity and participation of patients and clients.  Athletic training encompasses the prevention, diagnosis, and intervention of emergency, acute, and chronic medical conditions involving impairment, functional limitations, and disabilities.

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Athletic Trainers work under the direction of physicians, and are clinically and academically qualified to medically treat patients and clients of all ages in any physical setting.  While rules and regulations vary by state, athletic trainers practice under statutes recognizing them as qualified health care professionals similar to physical therapists, occupational therapists and other health care professionals.

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More than 50 percent of athletic trainers work outside of the traditional school athletic settings providing services to people of all ages. Athletic Trainers can work in physician offices as physician extenders.  They also work in rural and urban hospitals, hospital emergency rooms, urgent and ambulatory care centers, military hospitals, rehabilitation clinics, youth leagues, commercial settings and professional sports teams.  Athletic Trainers are in great demand for their versatile health and wellness services and injury and illness prevention skills.  

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The skills of Athletic Trainers have been sought and valued by sports medicine specialists and other physicians for more than 60 years. As the U.S. continues its focus on reducing the effects of obesity and other chronic diseases, it is important that people have access to health care professionals who can support lifelong, safe physical activity. Athletic Trainers are an important part of the health care workforce, especially as the demand for clinicians is projected to greatly increase over the next decade.

PATS has developed working relations with many different organizations.  These organizations include: The Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania (BIAPA), American Trauma Society PA Division (ATS), PA Emergency Health Services Council (PEHSC), Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA), and Safe Kids PA. These relationships have all improved the quality of health care for the physically active in the Commonwealth.  The athletic training tradition and hands-on clinical and academic education combine to create health care professionals who are flexible and inventive – ideal managers of patient care and health care delivery. 

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Youth Concussions and The Safety in Youth Sports Act

The Pennsylvania General Assembly, in 2012, passed the Safety in Youth Sports Act to help prevent the growing number of youth concussions and severe brain injuries among student athletes. READ MORE HERE

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Sudden Cardiac Arrest Act  READ HERE

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NCAA Health & Safety GO TO SITE

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