So now you will probably ask "What are the athletic trainers saying?" Most ATs will spend their time linking to the NATA website and quoting their definitions about what an AT is. Others will spend time trying to differentiate athletic trainers from personal or fitness trainers and will insist upon being called by their full title. Finally a few will also try to differentiate us from physical therapists (with whom we have a lot in common,) or other allied health professionals. Personally, I'd prefer that the differentiation be made between athletic trainers and physical therapists for the simple fact that both require college degrees for entry level. Granted, PTs require a DPT now, but it wasn't that long ago that they required a bachelor's degree like ATs. I often hesitate to contrast us with personal trainers simply because there are a great many programs with varying standards for certifying personal trainers in the country. This, as ATs discovered and corrected, is not an efficient way to develop a profession. (Albiet, athletic trainers only had two paths to certification and not many.)
In light of some recent poor reporting in a small newspaper where the qualifications of athletic trainers were questioned, the importance of getting the word out about who we are was severely underscored. Athletic trainers need to get into their communities and spread the word through education at various youth league events and through parent education pieces. The recent explosion of coverage in the media that TBIs have received gives all ATs an incredible opportunity to increase their exposure. Because of our unique intimacy with this issue, we should be on the forefront doing this education. Far too many physicians and neuropsychologists have been singing our praises about our abilities and need us to continue the work we do. This is a more meaningful kind of exposure in my mind because it demonstrates our abilities rather than simply discussing or bragging about them. The power of demonstration, as many of our teachers in the past have pointed out, is much more significant than simply reading about a topic. These demonstrations of our knowledge and experience are a much more powerful example of what we can do than retweeting the last promotional message from @NATA1950 and thinking that you have fully contributed to NATM.
There are many excuses why we can't be out talking to our volunteer parents at the elementary school leagues to explain what is going on with current research and giving them the latest guidelines for safe return to play after TBIs. However, this is the best place where we to be recognized since this becomes an investment into the future of each community. The elementary kids are, for the most part, the future of the high schools where most of us are employed. Getting in front of the parents at that age will only help them to trust in your decisions once their kids are under your direct care in a few years. You may not have to do it alone either. Local collegiate ATs and those working in other, nontraditional settings may be willing to help with the outreach education and decrease the burden for any one person.
The final point to make is that whatever you do, make sure you represent your profession properly and always do it to the best of your abilities. Make sure people know who athletic trainers are and what it is that we do. Too often, we are in the background doing the work that only the athletes, coaches and administrators see. We need more than that if we are to grow as a profession.
No comments :
Post a Comment