The fine people over at InjureFree have a wonderful blog post about the cost for care as it relates to athletic trainers. This is an ABSOLUTE MUST READ for those interested in athletic training at the high school level. Rather than re-post the entire article I will present you with their infographic and give some quick thoughts.
This is for a high school with an athletic trainer, who as the blog post notes, can identify and asses acute injuries as part of their health care provider education. Not only can the ID the injuries but also place the injured athlete in the proper place within the continuum of care depending on the injury itself. Meaning, if the AT feels the injury will warrant possible surgery or is in need of immediate care they will be directed by the AT to “skip” the primary care physician and go directly to a specialist. This not only saves some money for a doctor visit, but it also will save time, which can be of the essence in some cases.
Secondly, if you did not have an AT on staff, and an injury that would have warranted further investigation by a doctor and it went “unchecked” the injury could have morphed into greater damage and further costs.
The athletic trainer is not limited to the above examples, not shown in this infographic is rehabilitation costs. Many times – depending on state regulations – the AT can perform rehabilitation services right at school at no or little cost. Moreover, the very minor injuries that require taping or simple stretching/monitored practice are at no cost to the injured player and their insurance. Again saving money.
Yes, this is a commercial for athletic trainers. We really need people to understand that our profession will not only save time and money when someone is injured, but we also save lives and stress of those dealing with the injuries.
#AT4ALL
The Concussion Blog 
Cheap insurance when you compare that to the cost spent on me and what its cost ME and my family.
9 emergency VP shunt brain surgeries
3 knee surgeries, including an experimental GoreTex ACL transplant in 84
33 years of gran mal seizures, meds, CT scans, MRIs etc
Major short term memory issues, anger management issues, poor judgement, forgot to bill clients, lost business, lost home, getting divorced after 19 years
I would have gladly paid for my own scan years ago to avoid the hell my family had suffered these last 33 years.
George Visger
Wildlife Biologist/Traumatic Brain Injury Consultant
SF 49ers 80 & 81
Survivor of 9 NFL Caused VP Shunt Brain Surgeries
Benefactor of ZERO NFL Benefits
The Visger Group – Traumatic Brain Injury Consulting
wwww.thevisgergroup.org
Not sure if this is buried in your blog, but I would be curious to see the statistics for how often players are cleared to play the week after a concussion, a team by team comparison.
Off the top of my head SF had 5 or so last year and everyone made it back the following week. Another team in the same division had 5-6 and not one player made it back the following week, they were kept out. This team’s owner has given a large amount of money for brain research and so it appears there is either a cautious approach or pressure to get them back on the field. SF had 1 last weekend, will be interesting to see if he plays this week, looks like he will says the coach.
Reblogged this on Eric Stanford and commented:
Very good read, especially for those in secondary high schools. This goes along the lines of my last post.
Athletic injuries are increasing everywhere, not just in high school. It is essential for every high schools to have a good athletic trainer who can properly train so that amount of such injuries are reduced and in case of injuries, properly treated in right time. If no proper injury treatment is given, some injuries may cause severe troubles causing cost and even life. The rehabilitation services provided by athletic trainers not only help some cost for the school, but can be very helpful for the students.