Medically Underserved Populations: The Athletic Trainer's Role

Abstract

Context Health care cost continues to rise; the US continues to spend dramatically more money than other developed nations per individual without increased health outcomes. More individuals are finding it harder to get access to a health care provider, especially those in medically underserved areas and populations. Objective To increase the knowledge of the athletic training educator about medically underserved populations and the roles athletic trainers (ATs) play as leaders in health care delivery. Background Current and future physician shortages are known and are only going to increase as more than one-third of current primary care physicians are expected to retire in the next 10 years. Forty percent of the population lives in areas that are medically underserved and designated by the government as areas of professional medical shortage; patients in these areas are primarily served by primary care physicians. Synthesis As with access to physicians, access to ATs has been shown to be based upon socioeconomic status and presents more challenges for the medically underserved. Early access to health care providers has shown to be important in adolescents, as negative health behaviors can carry into adulthood, leading to poorer health-related outcomes throughout life. Recommendation(s) To ensure that athletic training educational programs include opportunities to provide service to the medically underserved, education on social determinates of health, and the means by which ATs can fill critical holes in providing care for these patients. More research is needed to validate ATs' roles in providing quality health care. Additionally, more research is needed around how AT education can help meet patient needs. Conclusion(s) As the athletic training profession continues to evolve and responds to the growing demands of the complex health care system, access to an AT may provide a vital bridge to overall health care for patients within medically underserved populations.

The Role of Title 1 Secondary School Athletic Trainers in the Primary and Patient-Centered Care of Low Socioeconomic Adolescents

“…As many as one in eight adolescents lack a usual source for routine preventive care and as many as one in eleven adolescents report having no usual source of care when sick or injured [ 3 ]. This is due in part to health inequities suffered by these individuals, such as lack of insurance, underinsurance, greater reliance on public insurance, and lesser access to healthcare providers [ 4 ]. Heads of households report spending significant time searching for public health insurance [ 2 ], after which, when secured, policy holders report spending significant time searching for clinicians and facilities that accept their plans [ 2 ].…”

“…While still considered a luxury in some regions of the country, AT services are generally free of charge if provided to student–athletes at secondary schools. Therefore, for adolescents from lower SES backgrounds who have limited–to-no access to quality health care, interactions with ATs through interscholastic activities may be one of the only regular encounters they have with a healthcare provider [ 4 , 8 , 9 ]. This positions ATs ripely to serve as the first point of contact regarding general, non-orthopedic medical concerns and a vital bridge to the healthcare system for this vulnerable patient population [ 4 ].…”

“…Therefore, for adolescents from lower SES backgrounds who have limited–to-no access to quality health care, interactions with ATs through interscholastic activities may be one of the only regular encounters they have with a healthcare provider [ 4 , 8 , 9 ]. This positions ATs ripely to serve as the first point of contact regarding general, non-orthopedic medical concerns and a vital bridge to the healthcare system for this vulnerable patient population [ 4 ]. Secondary school ATs can use patient-centered strategies to guide student–athletes to school-based or free community health centers and serve as advocates for these services in the event that they do not exist [ 9 ].…”