Athletic Trainers Focus On Virtual Care Through COVID-19

As the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic has forced the suspension or cancellation of most major sporting competitions around the world, athletic trainers are finding virtual ways to remain operational.

Even though their profession as a whole is currently under incredible stress and pressure without being able to have face-to-face contact with their patients or athletes, athletic trainers around the world are using virtual contact to keep them at the forefront of sports.

Athletic trainers are most commonly known for their roles as members of a sport medicine team, but their work can range as widely from acute care to patients in Orthopaedic Urgent Care Clinics to health and wellbeing care of active duty soldiers in the Military.

Athletic trainer at Henry Clay Athletic Training, Peter Gray, said athletic trainers are also going above and beyond their traditional work, offering medical assistance to hospitals and blogging.

“We’re notorious for being available to our athletes, and we’re going to stay available to our athletes,” Gray said.

“We’re going to continue to have our impact at these high schools.

“As athletic trainers, our work constantly keeps us on our toes.

“But one thing remains the same no matter what we’re doing, seeing athletes overcome their injuries and ultimately return to succeed in their sports is the best feeling in the world,” he said, discussing how he has also turned to writing blog posts providing resources during the pandemic, including promoting physical exercise to reduce stress and boost immune function.

With the suspension and cancellation of most sports around the world, athletic trainers are relying more than ever on virtual programs, and resources such as Presagia Sports’ Athlete Electronic Health Record are helping athletic trainers with their records and personalised care.

By being able to track an individual’s injuries securely, along with their health status and previous experiences, athletic trainers can use the electronic health record to better understand their patients and provide individualised and specific care to improve their own efficiency and their patients’ wellbeing.