Historically, the US health care system has largely been siloed and hierarchical. However, in the 1990's, as research showed that lack of coordinated care led to inefficiency, increased costs and medical errors, there began a call for for more collaborative models of care. The Institutes of Medicine (now National Academies of the Sciences, Engineering and Medicine) and the World Health Organization made recommended improved collaboration among professionals as a key to system improvement.
To support this transition, Interprofessional Education (IPE) where "learners from two or more professions learn about, from and with each other to enhance collaboration to improve health outcomes" began to arise at academic institutions. However, AT professional programs were not initially included in these initiatives because they often were housed in academic units outside of colleges of health professions or schools of nursing or medicine where IPE programs were developed.
In the past two decades, that began to change, providers outside of the traditional AT settings realized that the AT's versatile and collaborative skillset was transferable to more traditional health care settings such as physician practice, clinical/industrial, military/tactical and the performing arts. In turn, the CAATE standards have evolved to broaden the scope of knowledge and skills for AT program graduates as they enter the workforce. Additionally, AT programs have aligned with peer health professions and engaged in IPE teaching and research.
The Athletic Training Education Journal is starting a Special Series "Interprofessional Education for Collaborative Practice" to showcase AT research and teaching. I wrote an editorial "Celebrating the Culture of Interprofessional Collaboration in Athletic Training" as guest editor collaborating with Dr. Sarah Manspeaker from Duquesne University.
Access that article here: https://meridian.allenpress.com/atej/article/18/1/26/490602/Celebrating-the-Culture-of-Interprofessional
Recently there has been an incident that brought an increased awareness of the AT's unique knowledge, skills and abilities around teamwork, trauma management and care coordination. On January 2, 2023, at a nationally televised National Football League game in Cincinnati, medical teams led by AT's from the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals operationalized a well-planned and rehearsed Emergency Action Plan to deliver a high standard of care for Damar Hamlin, who suffered cardiac arrest on the field.
This approach to care was highlighted by the NFL and many news outlets, including this profile shared at the NFL Honors broadcast: https://twitter.com/i/status/1623883267375263744
I was also interviewed by Joel Luedke on the Athletic Training Chat podcast, where we discussed the value that AT's bring to interprofessional health care teams. That podcast is available on YouTube:
Stay engaged with the NATA's Interprofessional Collaboration in Athletic Training Interest Group:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8229902/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NATA_IPEP
Contact Dr. Anthony Breitbach at: anthony.breitbach@health.slu.edu
