Written by: Brandon Wells
March was National Athletic Training Month. March was supposed to be a celebration of Athletic Trainers and the care they give to athletes across the nation, however, this year, March brought a much different challenge to Athletic Trainers and fellow healthcare providers.
Across the state of Tennessee athletics at all levels have been cancelled this spring due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. In Nashville, for example, athletic trainers from Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) have been called upon to volunteer to help at testing centers, walk-in clinics, drive up testing sites, and building entrance screening locations. “Athletic Trainers at Vanderbilt, both intercollegiate and secondary school ATs, are heavily involved in the fight against COVID-19. Everything from seeing and treating patients, to screening health care workers, or being couriers for patients around the medical center, we have been helping as much as we can. Athletic trainers have been involved since the outbreak in Tennessee began,” says Tom Bossung, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine at Vanderbilt University.
VUMC and hospitals across the state have set up remote sites to provide screening for individuals who may have COVID-19. Athletic trainers are working alongside physicians, nurse practitioners, licensed nurses, and medical assistants. “One of most important characteristics of being an athletic trainer is to be able to communicate with different healthcare professionals and patients during times of high stress and pressure. Athletic trainers have the ability to comfort people who aren’t feeling good and ensure they will get good care,” says Bossung.
Within the testing sites, athletic trainers have been tasked with the roles of patient intake and registration, collecting vitals (temperature, blood pressure, pulse, SP02, and respiration rate) and assisting providers in the administration of COVID-19 and influenza tests. Athletic trainers are assisting other healthcare professionals in educating patients on after care instructions while waiting for test results. The patient education includes personal hygiene, strategies to prevent additional exposure, as well as social distancing, self-isolation and quarantine instructions.
Chris Matarazzo, a VUMC Athletic Trainer who works with the Vanderbilt University baseball team, has been helping at COVID-19 testing centers since they have started. “Working in conjunction with a variety of healthcare professionals not only helps to provide optimal care during a tremendous time of need, but also serves as an opportunity to demonstrate the ability and versatility of athletic trainers as healthcare providers.”
This COVID-19 outbreak is like nothing we have seen before. Davidson County has seen over 1,000 confirmed cases. Bossung, who is in his 25th year at Vanderbilt says, “I hope this is a once in a lifetime thing and doesn’t compare to anything we have experienced as it has basically shut down the entire world. The closest thing I can compare this to is the 9/11 attacks because it has paralyzed the nation. I think this also compares to the HIV outbreak in the 80’s with the fear of the unknown being the worst part. The difference to me is that COVID-19 seems more contagious.”
The motto for National Athletic Training Month was “Healthcare Through Action.” Athletic trainers are living that motto by delivering healthcare through action in the fight against COVID-19.
Thank you to all of our Tennessee athletic trainers who are working in the fight against COVID-19. If you are a Tennessee athletic trainer and have some involvement in the fight against COVID-19, please submit photos to tats.communications@gmail.com so we can recognize you and your efforts.
Please stay safe everyone and keep your social distance!