Certified Athletic Trainer

Potomac Healthcare Solutions•Joint Base San Antonio - Lackland, TX, Lackland AFB, TX, US, TX

About The Position

The Certified Athletic Trainer provides athletic training and sports medicine services to service members, including prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, emergency response, and clinical follow-up for musculoskeletal and exertional injuries or conditions. The trainer performs comprehensive clinical examinations, interprets findings, identifies impairments, develops care plans, and determines when further assessment or referral is appropriate. Care must remain within professional scope and applicable standards, policies, and approved procedures. The role includes delivering therapeutic interventions and modalities; designing protective equipment, braces, conditioning, strength, aerobic, corrective-exercise, and injury-prevention programs; supporting fitness recovery and performance optimization; and educating service members on rehabilitation, fitness, nutrition, hydration, acclimatization, and injury prevention. The trainer documents evaluations and treatment in the electronic health record, with encounters completed and signed within 72 hours, participates in research and quality initiatives, and coordinates care with sports medicine physicians, instructors, and healthcare personnel. The position works under the supervision of a designated Sports Medicine physician and may independently provide medical coverage and emergency care within the trainer’s scope.

Requirements

Master’s degree from a CAATE-accredited Athletic Training Education Program, or a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in Athletic Training.
Certification by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Board of Certification (NATABOC) or National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA).
In-person Basic Life Support (BLS) certification accepted by the American Heart Association for healthcare providers or by the American Red Cross; online courses are not accepted.
At least one year of experience diagnosing, treating, and/or preventing musculoskeletal injuries in a high school, collegiate, professional, or military setting. Applicants with a bachelor’s degree must have at least three years of such experience.
Current, full, active, and unrestricted Texas state license.
Must be a U.S. citizen.

Responsibilities

Prevent, recognize, evaluate, diagnose, treat, and rehabilitate musculoskeletal injuries and exertional illnesses or conditions.
Perform comprehensive clinical examinations, obtain appropriate histories, interpret findings, identify impairments, formulate diagnoses or differential diagnoses, and determine appropriate treatment, referral, activity limitations, and follow-up.
Provide emergency first aid, initial injury evaluation and treatment, and emergency medical response within professional scope.
Deliver therapeutic interventions and modalities, including exercise protocols, manual therapy, joint mobilization, hydrotherapy, cryotherapy, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, massage, taping, wound care, and heat mitigation or cold-water immersion.
Design and fabricate protective pads, equipment, and braces, and use appropriate taping techniques to prevent and treat injuries.
Develop and implement strength, aerobic, flexibility, corrective exercise, conditioning, functional reconditioning, and injury-prevention programs for individuals and large groups.
Assist with fitness coordination and supervision for service members recovering from injury or who have failed a physical fitness test, while ensuring there is no added overall health risk.
Educate and counsel service members on therapeutic-regimen compliance, injury prevention, rehabilitation, functional movement, fitness, nutrition, hydration, electrolyte balance, and acclimatization.
Screen service members for injury and illness risk factors, including flexibility, strength and endurance, cardiovascular fitness, posture, ergonomics, and body composition.
Document all evaluations and treatment activities in patients’ electronic health records and close out encounter documentation within 72 hours.
Provide clinical follow-up and reevaluation of injuries.
Coordinate clinical care with sports medicine physicians and communicate patient status and care information with patients, training instructors, and the healthcare system.
Complete three peer reviews of patient-care documentation for a designated Sports Medicine physician or HPS/CC designee by the first day of each month.
Attend Athletic Training Program meetings and briefings as requested.
Participate in research, CPI, outcome tracking, data collection, and IRB-approved studies as directed and within scope.
Evaluate and recommend techniques and equipment that may improve sports medicine performance optimization.
Provide on- and off-site athletic training services and, when needed, first-responder emergency care in accordance with applicable organizational policies.
Perform other medical management and CPI activities within athletic training scope as directed by a designated Sports Medicine physician or HPS/CC designee.