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:
- Medical physician director*
- Certified athletic trainers*
- Emergency medical services personnel
- School physicians
- Primary care providers (e.g. pediatricians, family practice, nurse practitioners)
- Consulting and other physicians
- Physical therapists
- Registered dieticians
- Dentists
- Public health officials
- Public safety personnel
- Other allied health care professionals
- Students and trainees in the above disciplines.
* Denotes core members of the AHCT
On-site personnel (sponsoring organization administrators, parents, coaches, athletes) interact with the AHCT through the certified athletic trainers and EMS personnel.
Teaser title:
Who Should Be Members of an Athletic Health Care Team?
Teaser text:
An athletic health care team (AHCT) allows a comprehensive approach to sports injuries by middle schools, high schools and community-based sports programs by including medical professionals from many disciplines.