athletic trainers in orthopedic groups

[doughboy]

I've read that there are more athletic trainers recently working in orthopedic groups. Are there any PAs in orthopedic groups with firsthand experience on how they function in an ortho practice?  How are athletic trainers used in an orthopedic hospital or clinic setting versus PA or DPT? Thanks

[mgriffiths]

In my experience they are used very similar to an MA in a FM office: rooming patients, taking histories, setting up procedures, etc.  They also sometimes will do the casting (NOT the setting) of a fracture.

[ohiovolffemtp]

Several PA classmates where athletic trainers who worked for ortho practices.  In addition to the above, they often covered high school sporting events for the practice.  Those practices either volunteered (as a way to get patients) or were hired to provide this coverage.

[Mayamom]

I've met a few a few AT over the years,  Very smart and they know anatomy so well.  Glad to hear they are being utilized in various ways.  

[doughboy]

Thank you for everyone’s reply. So, in general are the athletic trainer not doing much of the examine and diagnoses? And more of the medical assistant job duties+ event coverage + casting?

[Arthropathy]

We had an AT that was in charge of all DME including casts. Such a great resource.

[Alextbull]

I’m an AT in ortho practice. Yes similar duties to an MA but like our ortho background so we use ATs over MAs. Help with histories, vitals, assist with casting/injections/splinting, local wound care, suture/staple removal, brac/boot etc. fitting. I applied this cycle to PA school but feel my work experience in this setting has helped greatly. 

[AbeTheBabe]

We have a few in our practice. Basically they are a super MA/scribe. One of the docs was too cheap to hire a PA so he hired an AT. Besides helping him see patients a little bit quicker, I thought it was very short sighted of him. A PA wouldn't cost him anything since they are seeing patients and billing. Oh well, he left the practice anyway.