To help middle and high schools and private- and community-based youth sports organizations (YSOs) provide appropriate medical care to secondary-school-aged adolescents in sports, the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) recently issued a Summary Statement calling for schools and YSOs to establish, in consulation with administrators, coaches, parents and athletes, athletic health care teams (AHCTs) to approach the issue of athletic injuries in a comprehensive way.
The NATA recommends that the AHCT include the following medical professionals:
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Medical physician director*
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Certified athletic trainers*
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Emergency medical services personnel
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School physicians
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Primary care providers (e.g. pediatricians, family practice, nurse practitioners)
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School physicians
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Orthopaedic physicians
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Consulting and other physicians
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Physical therapists
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Registered dieticians
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Dentists
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Public health officials
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Public safey personnel
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Other allied health care professionals
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Students and trainees in the above disciplines.
On-site personnel (sponsoring organization administrators, parents, coaches, athletes) interact with the AHCT through the certified athletic trainers and EMS personnel.
