Separation and Scope of Athletic Training Practice in Emergency Care

BOC Domains of Athletic Training: Domain V - Healthcare Administration and Professional Responsibility Presentation Description: During interprofessional practice health care professionals need to know how each other’s scope of practice overlap and where the potential for issues to arise that could impact patient care.  In many states for example EMT’s can maintain non-medicated IV sites, but they cannot run fluids.  This is important to understand when planning for what type of units will be available on-site or responding to for various athletic events emergencies in regards to BLS unit vs. an ALS Unit.  If the AT on-site or Team Physician has started an IV and fluid administration is needed during transport, then the patient will need ALS transport and so an ALS unit would need to be called.  The importance of EAP preplanning is to discuss and understand the scope of practice of all HCP who will be involved at a school, event or venue to help assure the proper EMS unites are available for patient care. Learning Objectives: AT’s identify areas of overlap in scope of practice with each level of EMS providers: EMR, EMT, AEMT, NRP, APP. AT’s will be able identify how to define the roles and responsibility of EMS providers during various sporting events. AT’s and EMS providers will be able to identify methods and techniques of pre-planning and training to assure quality interprofessional practice with EMS providers during medical emergencies. Clinical Practice Gap Statement: Athletic trainers in clinical practice often meet with EMS professionals to develop emergency action plans but are often left with little understanding to the different levels and scope of practice of the providers who they are transferring care to.  Athletic trainers who understand the scope of practice and capabilities can provide better emergency action planning and improve patient outcomes by assuring the appropriately needed level of care is available if an emergency arises at the event or match.  EMS providers need to understand the scope and capabilities of an AT to assure they can provide the appropriate level of units to support the AT working the event.  Decisions on what patients are to be transported to the on-site medical facilities versus local emergency department or hospital needs to be decided prior to the event.  Also, the development of a unified command between the event organizers, the AT’s, fire and EMS needs to be developed and understood.  National Incident Management System and Incident command systems training is often lacking in AT education and would help facilitate better EAP development. Clinical Bottom Line Statement: A well-coordinated and developed EAP with all the key health care providers and event personal having input at the table when developed can assure the proper units and credentialed health care providers are put in place through interprofessional clinical practice to assure any patients during the event receive the best possible care helping to lead to a great patient outcome.

          Dr. Eric J. Fuchs is a Professor of Athletic Training in the Department of Parks, Recreation, Exercise & Sports Science & serves as an adjunct faculty in the EKU Center for Wilderness Medicine & Outdoor Public Safety.  Dr. Fuchs served as Chair of the Department of Exercise & Sport Science at EKU from 2016 to Dec 2022. Prior to Chair, he served as the ATEP Program Director for 10 years and oversaw the programs transition from BS in AT to a CAATE accredited MS in AT Program. Dr. Fuchs has authored a textbook chapter on Emergency Medication Administration.  He clinically practices as an Athletic Trainer serving as the Director of Sports Medicine for Festival Sports Inc. where he directs the medical care and services for the Volleyball Festival, a 600 team girls juniors AAU West Coast Nationals event.  Dr. Fuchs serves as a member of RedSTAR – a Special Treatment, Access and Rescue Wilderness Medicine Team for the Red River Gorge a special operations EMS unit with Powell County EMS.  Dr. Fuchs also serves as a member of the medical staff for Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon and associated races.  Dr. Fuchs serves as a member of the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services (KBEMS) Taskforce developing the written protocols and educational requirements for the Kentucky Wilderness Paramedic certification (WP-C), specifically writing section on Joint Reduction and Fracture re-alignment, covering all joints and fractures. Dr. Fuchs has had extensive experience in emergency care of the critically injured athlete and published a chapter on Emergency Medications & Administration. He has been an invited speaker on IV, wound care, emergency care of critically injured patients, suturing, and airway management both regionally and nationally within the AT and EMS professions.  Dr. Fuchs currently served as a member of the Kentucky Athletic Trainers Advisor Council Taskforce drafting the medication formulary and invasive procedure for the Kentucky Administrative Regulations (KARs) for the Kentucky AT practice act.  Dr. Fuchs is an Associate Expert for the RehbergKonin Group, a firm specializing in sports medicine expert services and risk management.  Dr. Fuchs has provided expert witness and consulting services for legal cases.  Dr Fuchs has also co-authored two book chapters one titled Reimbursement and Legal Considerations and second titled Management Strategies in Athletic Training.  Dr. Fuchs served as the CAATE representative to and member of the BOC Maintenance of Competence Task Force.  Dr. Fuchs currently serves as a peer reviewer for the CAATE.  He serves as an active volunteer medical staff member for the USOPC and has worked two UCI Supercross BMX Americas World Cup events in addition to providing volunteer coverage at USOPTC to a variety of sports. Dr. Fuchs completed his Doctor of Arts at MTSU, his Master of Art’s in Athletic Training at San Jose State University and his BS in Athletic Training & Health Education from Ohio University.

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 0.75 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.