So today is the last day where you could write letters to support for #AB1890, which would bring Athletic Training licensure to California. For more information on the Assembly Bill, click here. 

Every year, the California Physical Therapy Association would lobby against this bill, as portrayed in their official twitter account. Their main arguments presented in the tweets recently are that "it create a scope of practice that is too broad for ATs" and that "it would allow ATs to practice beyond their education and training. Not safe for consumers."
Whether you are parents, administrators, coaches, athletic trainers, athletic training students, other healthcare providers, or everyday healthcare consumer, I ask for a favor... Please write a letter to your state official to support this AB 1890. The letter is pre-written and would take you 5 minutes or less of your time. http://cqrcengage.com/cata/home . So let us show our support to our brothers and sisters in California. The success of this AB1890 passing through would bring about not only victory to athletic trainers, but also coaches, parents and most importantly, the health and safety of our athletes and kids.


Denny Wongosari, LAT, ATC

Concussion legislation exists in all 50 states and as such, our role in the process becomes more and more important.  As highly educated health care professionals, we are more than capable of providing concussion management practices.  The presence of Athletic Trainers, particularly in secondary schools allows an in-house means to comply with the legislation, under the supervision and in collaboration with a physician.  Yet, these legislative acts do not explicitly call for Athletic Trainers as the ‘qualified’ or ‘appropriate’ medical professions able to clear athletes from concussions. 

It appears, without explicit language, administrators are less likely to hire Athletic Trainers.  But shouldn’t they define who is ‘qualified’ or ‘appropriate’?  Wouldn’t specific language compel employers to fill the void in their organizations.  For now, they will continue to refer their students and student-athletes directly to physicians for clearance.  The more cost effective measure for the students or more accurately the student’s parents is to allow the on-site qualified medical professional to be empowered to make these return to play decisions in consultation with their supervising physician.  These relationships create a conduit for improved care and access. 

Parents already recognize the importance of Athletic Trainers during game safety.  Two-thirds polled in a 2010 study at the University of Michigan supported the mandate for Athletic Trainers at all practices and games.  So, while the states passing legislation are making strides to improved patient care, we need legislators to define ‘qualified’ or ‘appropriate’ medical providers and Athletic Trainers need to be included.

Justin Police LAT, ATC  

As youth sports gather popularity, the risk for injuries also rise.  In the last 5 years, over 200 sports-related deaths of young athletes have been reported.  Approximately 8,000 children are treated in emergency rooms each day for sports-related injuries (more data available here). 

In the United States we are actively seeking combat obesity, diabetic and other illnesses through exercise.  With this push to use exercise as medicine, the Alliance for Youth Sports Safety was established. The Alliance started with 30 leading health care and sports organizations forming a Call-to-Action for the purpose of preventing and reducing catastrophic injuries in youth sports. Some of the Alliance members include the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, American Academy of Pediatricians, National Athletic Trainers’ Association, National Center for Sports Safety, and National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury. Some of the commitments of the Call to Action are:  to educate players, administrator, coaches, and parents in ensuring safety, development of Emergency Action plans, ensuring policy for pre-participation examination and access to health care professionals.  For more info on the Call to Action, click here. 

Currently, the Alliance for Youth Sports Safety is growing to over 100 members and had just met for their 5th annual Summit in Washington, D.C. The Youth Sports Safety Summit is critical to drawing the public’s attention to ALL sports injuries, both minor and life-threatening. The goal of the Summit is to educate policymakers and the public about things like sudden cardiac arrest, exertional heat illness, sickle cell, cervical spine and organ injuries, as well as concussion.  The Alliance for Youth Sports Safety and its growing members are pushing for federal statutes for Student Athletes Bill of Rights. The Youth Sport Safety Alliance plays a crucial role in preventing catastrophic deaths in youth sports and I challenge you to keep in tabs and be involved with Youth Sports Safety Alliance.

One death is one too many. 

Denny Wongosari, LAT, ATC

In the United States greater than 7M high school student-athletes participate in sporting events each year. Of these 7M student-athletes, 2M sustain injuries, 200,000 through athletics. Many states do not require their high schools to employ athletic trainers, in fact, a large majority. Many high schools cannot afford to employ an athletic trainer due to insufficient budgets. As athletic trainers we are aware of the critically important role that we play in the emergent care of athletic injuries, as well as in the prevention and management of orthopedic injuries.  

The NATA in collaboration with over 120 other organizations including, the Youth Sports Safety Alliance, The American Football Coaches Association, the American Heart Association, and the National Association of State Boards of Education are currently supporting H. Res. 72 and Sen. Res. 372. Both of these proposals have no associated costs and offer members of Congress the ability to raise awareness of youth athlete safety issues to their constituents. Both of these resolutions suggest ten best practices that any school in the country can implement to make their student athletes safer. Further, they encourage secondary schools to take all available and reasonable efforts to ensure student athlete safety.

Please read these resolutions and support the political endeavors of the NATA:

S. Res. 372

H. Res. 72

One way in which you can do this is by joining the NATAPAC the National Athletic Trainers Association Political Action Committee.

Do you believe that states should require their high schools to employ an athletic trainer? Also, what further measures do you think we can take to improve the health and safety of our youth athletes?

Stephen Edwards, LAT, ATC

With the recent push for access to an Athletic Trainer in youth sports, it is important for parents to know who they are trusting to watch over their children. Is your state regulating the practice of Athletic Training?

Licensure is important for the Profession. It not only recognizes those who are qualified to call themselves Athletic Trainers, but it prevents us from those posing as Athletic Trainers. In California, nothing is stopping a person from claiming to be an Athletic Trainer. These individuals might not have Board of Certification credentials or graduate from a CAATE accredited education program.  This increases risk to patients and fails the Profession. 

State regulation not only protects patients, but it protects practitioners too!  The Athletic Training scope of practice is defined by the Role Delineation Study, Educational Competencies, and Position Statements. Although each state’s practice act varies, guidance as to what is permitted within this scope of practice helps to shape clear expectations for clinicians.   

As a California native, I am very passionate about getting the current legislation passed. Athletics Trainers across the country, particularly those practicing in California should be pushing for AB 1890 "Athletic Trainers Practice Act." The bill mandates that those practicing in the state meet specific qualifications. The bill is currently supported by Assembly Member Ed Chau (District 49) and needs further support before passing to the Senate.  After completing my professional degree and becoming certified, I decided to continue my Post-Professional education at Indiana State University. Having not been exposed to licensure laws prior to my arrival, the process was new to me.  And like all things with an application and fees, it can be a pain, but once I realized this was because Indiana supported my profession, I knew no matter how many documents I needed notarized or stamped, it was worth it.  Licensure yields validation and respect for Athletic Trainers. 

I believe that Athletic Training in the state of California has definite potential for growth. As the most populated state, the need more Athletic Trainers in secondary schools needs to be a priority… a national priority.  But until we embrace licensure… why would Athletic Trainers come for employment?

The first step is Licensure! This could be the year! Step up and advocate for your profession! Below is a link to the list of Assembly members in California. PLEASE take a minute to send an email to the Assembly Member in your District. Let’s get as much support for this bill as we can! (AB 1890 Athletic Trainers Practice Act)

http://assembly.ca.gov/

Michael Neal LAT, ATC & Lindsey E. Eberman PhD, LAT, ATC

If you think your action doesn’t matter… Here’s my story from Capitol Hill Day 2013.

My first trip to Washington D.C. for Hit the Hill was part of my administration project from my undergraduate athletic training program. I attended, naive but hopeful that I would be able to make an impact. With the guidance from Mitzi Laughlin from District 6, we attended meetings with Senator Ted Cruz, Representative Pete Olson, and others from around the state of Texas. Little did I know that we sparked an interest with Rep. Olson who is now a co-sponsor on H.R. 72 (Secondary School Student Athletes’ Bill of Rights). Though the meeting was short and the bill has not been passed into legislation, our efforts to simply tell our story and the relentless efforts of the PAC are having an impact! 

It is simple to get involved and even easier to find something you are passionate about. Get on-line, help out, and seek ways to do a little more for yourself, your athletes and the profession. 

Zachary Winkelmann, LAT, ATC

The Political Action Committee (PAC), the VOICE of Athletic Training, has two main goals; educate and lobby on behalf of our athletes for better health care and the other is to advocate for ourselves. In this profession, athletic trainers are constantly providing care and their time for the betterment of their patients. The PAC does that for our profession.

Too often athletic trainers will be silent, sitting in the back, to “be seen and not heard”… but what does that do for us? Perpetuate a lack of understanding about what we do? Allow people to label us as technicians and not highly educated rehabilitation science clinicians? Limit our scope of practice and our ability to be valued (as both human and fiscal capital)? 

As a young professional, you may be saying to yourself ‘I don’t understand politics’ or ‘Politicians are promise-breakers and nothing I do will ever get done’. The NATA, OUR ORGANIZATION, uses the PAC with leaders who understand politicians and lobbying who act FOR US. Now, it is our job to take the reins and begin the grass root efforts. Join the PAC TODAY! 
http://natapac.org/ 


Zachary Winkelmann, LAT, ATC & Lindsey E. Eberman PhD, LAT, ATC