WFATT2019

Title:

Key Note Lecture 2

Athletic Trainers: The First Line of Defense in Workplace Injury Prevention

 

 

Abstract:

Athletic trainers are finding new opportunities in settings other than athletics and sports in America.  Areas such as industry, armed forces, physician practices, and performing arts are seeing the benefits of the athletic trainer in the same way colleges, universities and professional sports appreciate them.  The skill set of the athletic trainer is vast and adapts to a wide variety of venues where the AT contributes to the organization and individual, providing high-quality care and driving costs down.

Providing direct patient care alongside the physician, the athletic trainer increases the physicians’ ability to see patients, increasing throughput and making the physician practice more efficient.  The AT adds their knowledge in exercise, bracing and casting to patient care.  

In performing arts, athletic trainers treat the entertainment athlete similar to the professional athlete through injury prevention, initial care and rehabilitation, keeping the performers on stage. The Rockettes, Cirque du Solei and World Wrestling Entertainment are a few groups where AT’s are seen.

In manufacturing and assembly, the athletic trainer contributes to increased productivity, while driving down costs for medical care.  In one company, the AT is directly responsible for 3-year cost savings of over $12 million and increasing productivity over 30%.  In industry, the athletic trainer helps control health care costs, improving the bottom line of the company.

The influence of the athletic trainer is emerging into settings that include health care administration and community outreach.  Return on investment of the athletic trainer is up to $10 saved on every $1 spent and because of this, athletic trainers in America are seeing growing opportunities.  This presentation provides an overview of the athletic trainer in non-athletic settings, particularly in industry.   It highlights the opportunity the AT provides an employer, their employees and clients.

 

Background:

A 1981 graduate of Washington State University, Marty has 36 years in the Athletic Training field. Over 25 years have been in the clinical setting, concentrating on postoperative spine and total joint rehabilitation.  He started two rehabilitation clinics, one as co-owner.  

Most recently, Marty has been with Work-Fit, contracted to the Boeing Company and their Industrial Athlete program.  He has led a program that has grown from 4 AT’s initially to over 35 at his site where the Boeing 747, 767, 777 and 787 are assembled. Here, Boeing sees the expertise of the AT as the first line of defense in injury prevention with reduced injuries and injury claims and increased productivity.

Marty also works with Polarzone Northwest in the development of state-of-the-art hydrotherapy systems. He has been active in District 10 and the NATA for 30+ years and has contributed to the passing of licensure in Washington State.  He has been with the NATA’s Clinical/Industrial/Corporate AT Committee, Governmental Affairs, Reimbursement, and has been on the Board of Directors of NATAPAC.  Marty is the current Chair of the Council on Practice Advancement, or COPA.

A resident of Seattle, Washington, USA, Marty is married to Janet and has two children, Laruen and Olivia.  He enjoys mountaineering, fishing, golf and reading.