Interesting Article from East Tennessee

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uEast Tennessee Athletic Trainers

 

 

Area athletics trainers gathered for a meeting to discuss important issues to their profession. TriCitiesSports.com photo. Click here for larger picture.

 

TriCitiesSports.com

July 26, 2009

 

Did you ever stop to think, “Who cares for my son or daughter at practice or during the game in case they get hurt?”

 

This picture was made on July 21 at a meeting of the Athletic Trainers in East Tennessee. Also in attendance were some Athletic Trainers from neighboring states.

 

The purpose of the meeting was to keep current on new rules and regulations as set forth by the sports governing bodies, discuss new practices and procedures for handling injuries, make themselves aware of new equipment for preventing injuries and for aiding in the quick and correct healing of injuries, discuss procedures for dealing with coaches and the parents of student/athletes who are injured.

 

Topics for the day were……

 

Meniscus Repairs – Dr. Patrick Riggins

Head Injuries – Dr. Daniel Lewis

Neck and Back Injuries – Dr. Galen Smith

Hip and Thigh Injuries - Dr. Michael Wells

CPR for the Professional – Kawana Barbour (BRMC, Wellmont)

 

The Athletic Trainers who have the responsibility for the physical well being of the student/athletes are both well educated and board certified. Over seventy percent of board certified Athletic Trainers hold Masters Degrees. Their job is not to hand out towels or carry water bottles to their teams but to make every effort to insure that correct practices and procedures are utilized in practices and in games.

 

Athletic Trainers are health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to optimize activity and participation of student athletes, clients and patients. Their training encompasses the prevention, diagnosis and intervention of emergency, acute and chronic medical conditions involving impairment, functional limitations and disabilities.

 

In attendance and the school they serve were……

 

Ballou Barrett – Cherokee High School

Vanessa Gilley – Volunteer High School

Kelly Flanary – Tennessee High School

Keith Carter – Easley High School, South Carolina

Mark McDonald – Science Hill High School

Tim Utt – Morristown East High School

Randy Johnson – Sullivan Central High School

Beth Funkhouser – Holston, Patrick Henry, Abingdon High Schools in

Washington Co. Virginia

Robert Eichen – South Doyle, Knoxville, TN

Tim Stewart – Morristown West

Audrey Stanley – Volunteer High School

Kevin Trivette – Dobyns Bennett High School

Katie MacLucas – Sullivan East High School

Greg Cross – Dobyns Bennett High School (Wellmont)

Tony Griffith – Johnson County High School

Ronnie Bernard – Sullivan South High School

Sherri Jones – King College, Bristol, TN

Jessica Crowe – Quillen College of Medicine

Meg Stone – East Tennessee State University (Sports Science)

Jerry Robertson – Watauga Orthopedics

Jim Cutshaw – Southeastern Ortho Solutions (Speaker and provided lunch)

 

As parents, fans and concerned citizens, we must be aware of the importance of the roles that Athletic Trainers play in lives of student/athletes in our area.

 

The employment of Athletic Trainers in upper East Tennessee is varied. Some schools employ full time trainers, some are paid in combination with local medical groups, some are bi-vocational teachers and trainers and some are volunteers.

 

If you look closely on the sidelines or in the stands, you will usually see one of our local physicians who is also giving their time to insure proper medical care is available.

 

Our Athletic Trainers and the local physicians who work the practices and games deserve our recognition and respect. Learn who they are and the next time you pass one on the playing field or in the gymnasium; smile and say thanks. I’m sure it would be appreciated.

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This is a great article indicative of the level of knowledge and skill that athletic trainers have. This comes at a time when medical institutions are looking to make cutbacks in their budget and are looking at athletic trainers as the first victims. This has happened with athletic trainers in Putnam County, Macon County, and Smith County, while schools in Sumner County are still not sure of the status of their athletic trainers for this school year.

 

Please thank your athletic trainers for their hard work and support of your local athletic programs.