We Are Concerned About Athletic Training's Future

While I concur with direction of the masters level programmatic change, I have concerns about the infringement on other professions practice acts and ensuing legislative challenges

I also forgot to mention that the cost for Liability insurance would go through the roof.

We all have been called Doc at some time,but a athletic trainer with OTJ experience doesn't make us bettedr n o matter how many master classes we obtain. Many have heard me say over the years I nev er let the classroom interfere with m,y athletic train ing ppreparation.

With these proposed changes it will raise huge liability issues that we will not be prepared nor covered for. With the restrictions on what a student is allowed to do without direct supervision, it has made it so our students are coming out of their undergraduate programs with no real life experience. Most of our new certified graduates are unable to problem solve, in real life on the field situation due to the fact that they haven't had an opportunity to practice it during their undergraduate experience.

I've been against this since I first heard about it. A student staying at the same institution, under the same supervision for their entire academic career will extremely limit their experience and independent thinking. Eliminating graduate assistantships will create a large number of graduates without any independent experience and independent thinking skills.

We are Certified Athletic Trainers! We need to remember what our profession was created to be and what our skills are, and not try to be a medical profession we are not.

I agree with many others that have commented. It will not increase pay for all athletic trainer but saturate the market with over-qualified professionals. Did these experts forget how many of us paid for master's degree programs? By working as a certified athletic trainer as a graduate assistant. (Actually I'm still paying my loans from graduate school, 10 years post). Not only will these new athletic trainers have more debt but they will have less experience than previous athletic trainers that obtained certification prior to receiving their master's degree. At this point, I could not in good faith recommend our profession to any student. If you want to spend 6 years in school, it would best be spent in other professions.

Please take into consideration this profession was built on the backs of a largely volunteered group. We are still coming into the healthcare setting as respected members. This will set us back tremendously!!

As a practicing AT in the collegiate setting and a preceptor for an ATEP, these new standards are VERY concerning to me. These skills are completely inappropriate for the entry-level student and risk the already fragile relationships our profession has built with other medical professionals. I am deeply concerned with the direction a small handful of people are trying to force an entire profession to go.

Total agreement This change is beyond what our profession should be doing and will only cause further battles with multiple other medical practices

When did we stop being Athletic Trainers and start to become Dr.'s if you want to IV, Suture and anything else outside of our scope of practice go to Med school. Athletic Trainers need to focus on Athletic training again and stop trying to get into every other allied health professions realm.

In addition to the important points made in the petition document the potential impact on employment opportunities in the traditional setting (high school, college) of these changes has not been reported. It is very possible that there will be a negative effect on AT positions in the secondary setting. With 39%of our membership in the traditional setting we should encourage those WHOM WORK FOR US to always consider that faction of ATs when making decisions.

I agree with these statements and I have serious concern for the future of the profession and our educational programs.

Simply, I agree.

True heroes in sports

I agree with this petition 110%. I am upset that I am paying membership dues for a few people to make decisions with no input from the rest of the group.

This is a very scary and steep road you are taking us down. Slow down and seek wisdom.

As a former ATC, a current PA and preceptor for AT students these proposed changes in education and training concern me especially because I know firsthand how it takes to become proficient.

This will not help athletic trainers get more jobs, this will not increase our base pay, this will put a choke hold on our profession. This is a bad idea. The focus needs to be on creating a better understanding of our current healthcare expertise and by getting an athletic trainer (or two) in every high school first! Please think this through... This is not a good idea!

If you want to increase education then increase the base pay.