ATLAS Project update – 614

Secondary school AT?  Then you should be familiar with and completed the ATLAS Project survey.

Today on the podcast John Ciecko catches Larry Cooper and Rob Huggins for an update on the ATLAS (Athletic Training Location and Services) program which started in 2015 as a joint initiative between the Korey Stringer Institute and the NATA.

The ATLAS project is designed to track to AT services, improve communication between athletic trainers and produce research for the advancement of the profession of Athletic Training in the secondary school setting.

ATLAS Project update

What are the updates from ATLAS?

Rob reports that ATLAS has had a successful year.  Over 13,488 schools are reporting AT services in the US and that is 66% of schools.  Over 16,000 AT’s have completed surveys in the last 2 years and they are finding an increased response rate from AT’s and schools.  

Why the increased response from Secondary AT’s?

Larry believes that the BOC adding a reminder at the end of our reporting document is aiding in more AT’s taking and re-taking the survey.  State levels continuing to push it at the grassroots level are also helping.

The state of Florida is only 70 schools away from 100% participation, and the goal is for every state to reach that level.

How does ATLAS help AT’s in the secondary setting?

Data collected and reported from ATLAS to the individual states is helping push legislation through for things like AT presence at every school and cold water immersion tubs.

“ATLAS supports the policy initiatives that are making even bigger impacts in this country than this project is.”

Aside from the numbers of which schools have AT’s, what else do we learn from these surveys?

We are learning about how socioeconomic status affects the likelihood of an AT being at a high school.  In the EATA Districts 1 and 2, there are 10 times greater odds of AT services in upper-class areas versus lower class and a 4 ½ time greater odds in middle versus lower class areas.

This information can help states or districts get AT services in those areas and present to those who have high stakes in youth athletics (NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB) and together we can come up with creative solutions to manage this public health crisis.

Has ATLAS had a direct effect on legislation?

Absolutely!  Recently in Arkansas, there was legislation brought forward threatening the practice act in that state for AT’s.  Jason Cates used that data while sitting with his legislator to show him the actual numbers of students, teachers, and families that would be affected if this law was passed and that data helped the legislator block the bill.

What is the future goal of ATLAS?

We would like to have 100% participation in the ATLAS survey and we would like the data we collect to drive AT services throughout the country so that every school has an AT.  

Rob encourages everyone in the secondary setting to please complete and update the survey each year.  He believes that ATLAS “can make the biggest impact in what is arguably the largest area for growth in our profession, secondary schools.”

If you have questions please reach out to Rob via email at robert.huggins@uconn.edu or Kelly.coleman@uconn.edu  Their goal is to return emails in 24-48 hours.

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Contact Us

Jeremy Jackson

Jeremy JacksonHost of The Sports Medicine Broadcast

John Ciecko – jciecko@bloomfield.org

Alisha M Penningtonalisha@theatvantage.com

Mike McKenney – m.mckenney@northeastern.edu

Mike Hopper – Mike.Hopper@bishoplynch.org

Clint Sanders – clint@dragonflyathletics.com

These people LOVE Athletic Trainers and help support the podcast:

Frio Hydration – Superior Hydration products.

Donate and get some swag (like Patreon but for the school)

HOIST – No matter your reason for dehydration DRINK HOIST

MedBridge Education – Use “TheSMB” to save some money, be entered in a drawing for a second year free, and support the podcast.

Marc Pro – Use “THESMB” to recover better.

Athletic Dry Needling – Save up to $100 when registering through our link.

Frio Hydration – Superior Hydration products.

Donate and get some swag (like Patreon but for the school)

HOIST – No matter your reason for dehydration DRINK HOIST

MedBridge Education – Use “TheSMB” to save some money, be entered in a drawing for a second year free, and support the podcast.

Marc Pro – Use “THESMB” to recover better.

Athletic Dry Needling – Save up to $100 when registering through our link.

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Armed Forces AT Michael Hooper – 611

Mike Hooper has spent the last 16 years serving as an athletic trainer in the armed forces.  Specifically, the Department of the Navy. Today on the podcast, he joins John Cieko and discusses what drew him to the military setting as an AT.

Armed Forces Athletic Trainer Michael Hooper; John Ciecko; NATA; Las Vegas

How did Mike end up in the Armed Forces after a career that took him through a variety of settings including secondary, collegiate and professional?

He grew up around the military and served himself for a short time in the armed services.  “I saw injuries, experienced some injuries and I looked at it (serving as an AT in the armed forces) as a good opportunity to be a much-needed resource within the community.”  

What does he enjoy about this emerging setting?

 Mike finds working in the armed services as an AT extremely rewarding.  He sees it as a bigger cause with a global perspective. It really is life vs death.

What are the challenges of working in this setting?

Mike believes that your only limitations are between your ears.  An injury is an injury in any setting, however, he highly recommends that you ingest all you can through observation and that will help you develop treatment strategies that you can tailor and modify.  Mike’s goal is to learn something new every day and pass it on to those who may take his place someday.

What is the future of AT in the Armed Forces?

Mike feels that AT in the military is taking off like an Indy Car.  It may have taken a few years to gain traction but they have gone from approximately 50 AT’s in 2003 to over 300 today.

“We (AT’s) fit in to maximize the effectiveness of the team.”  

How is the military setting different?

In many ways, Mike believes it is the same.  AT’s are generally caring and emotionally attached to their profession.

However, you want to give everything you have and exhaust every opportunity to help the guy who will save others.  You are treating men and women who essentially have the mentality of taking a bullet or jumping on a grenade for their fellow team members.  It’s hard to say no when you see the sacrifices they make.

What are some of the stories you have been a part of?

Mike has seen and experienced so many success stories.  Success stories and triumphs that help him wake up with a different mentality in the morning.  

In many settings, you don’t see a lot of gunshot wounds or amputees but we do in the armed services.  Mike is thankful that the NATA is beginning to highlight the emerging settings within the profession and prepare students for these settings.

How can we get more information?

Visit the COPA website for military information or visit the Armed Forces Athletic Training Society website.  Ask any military AT who would love to answer your questions.

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Contact Us

Jeremy Jackson

Mike Hooper – Email

Jeremy JacksonHost of The Sports Medicine Broadcast

John Ciecko – jciecko@bloomfield.org

Alisha M Penningtonalisha@theatvantage.com

Mike McKenney – m.mckenney@northeastern.edu

Mike Hopper – Mike.Hopper@bishoplynch.org

Clint Sanders – clint@dragonflyathletics.com

These people LOVE Athletic Trainers and help support the podcast:

Frio Hydration – Superior Hydration products.

Donate and get some swag (like Patreon but for the school)

HOIST – No matter your reason for dehydration DRINK HOIST

MedBridge Education – Use “TheSMB” to save some money, be entered in a drawing for a second year free, and support the podcast.

Marc Pro – Use “THESMB” to recover better.

Athletic Dry Needling – Save up to $100 when registering through our link.

Frio Hydration – Superior Hydration products.

Donate and get some swag (like Patreon but for the school)

HOIST – No matter your reason for dehydration DRINK HOIST

MedBridge Education – Use “TheSMB” to save some money, be entered in a drawing for a second year free, and support the podcast.

Marc Pro – Use “THESMB” to recover better.

Athletic Dry Needling – Save up to $100 when registering through our link.