Athletic Trainers Keep Area Athletes Healthy

Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center is helping to keep athletes on the playing field as eight of its Associates are Certified Athletic Trainers by the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA). Founded in 1950, NATA has grown to more than 30,000 members worldwide today.

Throughout Northern Indiana, SJRMC Certified Athletic Trainers support Plymouth, John Glenn, Culver, Penn, Mishawaka Marian, and South Bend St. Joseph High Schools, as well as Ancilla College.

“I think our presence on the bench is just as critical as any member of the coaching staff,” said Ryan Carroll, a Certified Athletic Trainer at our Plymouth Campus. “I would encourage parents to find out who is taking care of their young athlete so they will know they are in good hands in the event of an injury.”

The situation has been played out thousands of times before.  Many young athletes are injured during an athletic event.  Except this time it is your child lying on the court or field in pain.  Are you comfortable and knowledgeable with what happens next? And exactly who is taking care of your child immediately after the injury? 

Certified Athletic Trainers are educated and trained for this exact scenario.  Through a 4-year college degree they are taught to handle any type of athletic injury.  Certified Athletic Trainers are not only taught to handle the immediate care of an injury, they are able to continue throughout the whole process up to deciding when the athlete can return to play.  This includes the prevention, evaluation, first aid, referral, treatment and rehabilitation of any athletic injury.

Like many other health professions in Indiana there is a license that needs to be issued to practice athletic training.  The profession is governed by the Indiana Athletic Trainers Board.  There is also a national certification that requires students to pass a 3-part examination to become a Certified Athletic Trainer.  Professionals in this setting need to complete mandatory education hours each year (25 per year) to continue as an Indiana licensed and nationally certified athletic trainer.  Certified athletic trainers also need to renew CPR/AED certifications every year to keep certification.

“It’s work but it’s fun work knowing that we are a valuable part of whatever team we’re working with,” Carroll said. “And, with last month being National Athletic Trainers Month, it is nice to receive recognition for what we do and the time we have put in to keep our young athletes healthy and in the game.”

Mishawaka Certified Athletic Trainers: Carl Landis, Gayle Thomas, Trish Irvin, Ann Micinski and Dr. Stephen Simons 

Plymouth Certified Athletic Trainers: Ryan Carroll, Tom Bolze, Adam Rippy and Kim Richey