Policies and Protocols

Athletic trainers are professionals that work to prevent injuries and illnesses.  Everyday we are introduced to new ways to recognize deficiencies in our patients by develop stretching, strengthening and nutritional programs to help minimize injury.  We work to maintain clean and safe practice and competition environments all in the name of prevention.

This fall my school district wanted to get emergency Epi-Pens at each school following a South Texas school incident that made national news (link below).  Getting the emergency medication was simple thanks to our team physician and a company that provides two free pens to every school that applies with a prescription.  I then found out that a new policy had to be written and be approved by the school board, and an existing policy needed some revamping.
Once in this process, I started to review all of our policies and realized there were some policies I did not know existed and some that needed some updating.  Not being aware of all safety and medical policies is my fault. When I joined this district four years ago, I only asked to review high school policies and the athletic department policies, not those that pertained to the nursing staff or other campuses within the district.  


In most cases this means that a policy, protocol or procedure has been developed, approved, and then upheld in order to stay current with new research and laws.  In the secondary setting, the total number of policies, protocols and laws that must be followed are at times overwhelming, and that list keeps getting longer every academic year.

I found that there were some policies that were written with the school nurses in mind, but not the athletic trainer. This obviously was not a problem, but it showed further that there should be constant communication among all professionals and departments in the district. How can you be compliant and provide best care for all students if you don't know a policy in place? 

We, as medical professionals, must ensure that we are staying current on all policies within our organization as they tend to change more often than our state and national laws.  We should be reviewing all medical policies on a regular basis to ensure that they work for all people responsible for upholding the policy within the organization. It is another opportunity for collaboration throughout. I am grateful for the nursing staff that I work with we try to work with each other to provide the best care for all students.

EpiPen Story: http://www.nbcnews.com/health/texas-boys-death-reignites-debate-over-epipens-schools-4B11194403

-Stephanie Nelson

Remembering All the Aspects of Evidence-Based Practice

I have to give a shout out to my volleyball coaches. They have helped cut down on the amount of volleyball injuries we normally have in one season by simply adding a variety of workouts to their team's practices.  Since taking the job two years ago, they have added in mobility training, yoga, meditation, and probably a few other things that I do not know about.  They required each player to buy their own foam roller over the summer, and they all roll out on a regular basis after practices.  

Other coaches think they are crazy.  I mean, why would you need to do anything besides practice your sport and lift weights, right?  Luckily, I have been able to see all the benefits these changes have produced.  We used to have a variety of upper and lower body injuries we dealt with all year long.  This year I can think of one injury, and it resolved quickly with a little help from our athletic training staff.

This change has helped me see that sometimes we need to step out of our comfort zones and try new things.  This summer I attended a session at the NATA Annual Meeting addressing evidence-based practice (EBP).  When I think of EBP, I mostly consider what the research supports.  At the meeting, I was reminded EBP is not just what is supported by original research; it also factors in the clinician’s own knowledge and experience, along with the patient’s goals and values.

Before I may have joined in with the other coaches, thinking our volleyball coach was doing some crazy stuff.  There probably is not a lot of research out there correlating the specific combination of activities my volleyball coaches use with a decrease in team injuries.  However, I have seen the outcomes and I have observed the improved quality of life my players have now. That alone is evidence in my evidence based practice.  Could it be coincidence? Sure, but I’m going to support my coaches new additions to practice, until I am proved otherwise.

Even though I am a young professional, I still find myself get stuck in my ways, but, thanks to my volleyball coaches and a NATA Annual Meeting session this summer, I have been open to trying new things.  We, as health care professionals, should be anxious to learn and try new methods.  Instead of doing what we have always done, let’s be willing to apply our EBP methods and add a little creativity in order to achieve better outcomes for our athletes!

-Shaya Hancock