Critical Decision Points 2.0: Navigating Initial Presentations of Generalized Abdominal Pain and Altered Mental Status

BOC Domains of Athletic Training: Domain II - Assessment, Evaluation and Diagnosis Domain III - Critical Incident Management Domain IV - Therapeutic Intervention Course Description: This course explores the essential decision-making processes and assessment protocols for handling athletes in two interactive cases: generalized abdominal pain and altered mental status. Emphasizing the importance of a structured assessment and environmental safety, this course aims to equip Athletic Trainers with the necessary skills to identify and respond to emergent health concerns efficiently. Learning Objectives: Learn the sequence of steps to conduct an effective patient assessment. Learn to quickly assess the safety of the environment in an athletic setting and identify any immediate risks to the athlete and Athletic Trainer. Gain proficiency in conducting a primary assessment on an athlete exhibiting symptoms like rapid breathing, headache, and nausea, focusing on airway, breathing, and circulation evaluation.     Clinical Practice Gap Statement: There exists a gap in the consistent application of structured patient assessment strategies in the context of two cases:  sudden abdominal pain in athletes and altered mental status, leading to delays or errors in addressing potentially critical conditions. Clinical Bottom Line Statement: Effective and systematic assessment procedures, including environment safety evaluation and primary assessment focusing on vital functions, are crucial in managing athletes presenting with the two cases presented:  generalized abdominal pain and altered mental status; ensuring timely and appropriate medical intervention.

Dr. Ronnie Harper, Ed.D., LAT, ATC, NREMT, stands out as a prominent leader and advisor in the Athletic Training profession, offering his expertise on both local and national scales. Serving as a key member of the NATA Secondary School Committee for District IX, Ronnie's influential efforts played a pivotal role in the inception of the Athletic Training Location and Services Project (ATLAS) and the Safe Sports School Awards (SSSA). Furthermore, he's a principal author for the NATA's Appropriate Medical Care Standards document and its associated online tool, which serves as guidance for ensuring adequate medical care for Secondary School Aged Athletes. With a distinguished 15-year career in higher education, Dr. Harper has tenure at institutions such as Mississippi State University, the University of Alabama, and Southeastern Louisiana University. During his tenure at Southeastern Louisiana University, he was appointed as the Assistant Professor and spearheaded their CAATE Accredited Athletic Training Education Program. An alumnus of Mississippi State University, Ronnie boasts both a bachelor's and master’s degree from there, and furthered his academic pursuits with a Doctorate in Education from the University of Alabama, specializing in Health and Human Performance Studies. His dedication to the field also extends to active participation in the Louisiana Athletic Trainers Association (LATA), notably contributing to the Hall of Fame committee. His remarkable achievement of being inducted into the LATA Hall of Fame in 2013 stands as a testament to his dedication and commitment. This dedication was further recognized in 2018 when he was honored with the District IX High School Athletic Trainer of the Year Award.

Action Medicine Consultants, LLC (BOC AP#: P12095) is approved by the Board of Certification, Inc. to provide continuing education to Athletic Trainers (ATs). This program is eligible for a maximum of 1.0 Category A hours/CEUs. ATs should claim only those hours actually spent in the educational program. GENERAL DISCLAIMER: It is the responsibility of the participant, relying on the independent expertise and knowledge of the patient, to determine the best treatment and method of application for the patient. Participants must use discretion when using the information contained within this presentation.  The presenter has provided the following regarding disclaimers: The information and content provided in this course are for informational purposes only. The presenter nor Action Medicine Consultants, LLC bears no liability for your use of this information and content. The views expressed in this course are those of the presenter(s). CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: In compliance with continuing education requirements, all presenters must disclose any financial or other associations with the manufacturers of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services, or commercial supporters as well as any use of unlabeled product(s) or product(s) under investigational use.  This presentation does not involve the unlabeled use of a product or product under investigational use.  During the presentation, the presenter provides disclosure of any relevant financial relationships or other associations.  Refund Policy:  Live (virtual or in-person) Courses - Full refunds (Minus 10% for handling fees) are given after completion of the course if cancellation request is received 14 days prior to the course date. No refunds will be given after this deadline, but fees may be applied to another current or a future course. This also applies to virtual courses if a technical issue occurred on the presenter side that prevented a full presentation from being performed. On-Demand Courses - No refunds will be given, but fees may be applied to another current or a future course if there is a technical issue in Action Medicine Consultant's delivery of the course and in which no certificate of completion was issued.