The National Sports Medicine Foundation is currently seeking accreditation for their new Athletic Training program and is not accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). The NSMF will be submitting a self-study to begin the accreditation process on July 1, 2024.
During the residency athletic trainers will be exposed to cutting edge Orthopaedic research, technologies, and techniques. The core of the program focuses on education and professional growth. The curriculum includes lecture series, surgical skills, cadaver labs, research, journal clubs, rotational competencies, and symposiums/conference.
What sets us apart from other residency programs?
We are the only program in the Mid Atlantic
| Post Professional Education and Research Overview |
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| Curriculum Overview |
| Education Overview |
| Athletic Trainer in the Physician Practice Setting |
| Academic Sessions |
| Research Overview |
| Quality Improvement Initiative |
Curriculum Overview
As the athletic training resident at the National Sports Medicine Institute, you are expected to meet the six core competencies which include:
- Patient centered care
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Evidence-based practice
- Quality improvement
- Use of healthcare informatics
- Professionalism
Athletic Training Residency will be expected to complete:
- Competencies and role delineations for each rotation
- Pre and Post residency exam
- Reading list for each rotation to be completed during rotation
- Anatomy curriculum includes cadaver labs and diagnostic imaging taught by physicians and staff
- Surgical curriculum includes surgical observation requirements, introduction to OR and sterile techniques, patient positioning and room setup, surgical tools and instruments, arthroscopy labs, surgical technique labs and trauma labs
- A research project is required
Education Overview
Our AT residents are expected to participate in, coordinate, attend, and/or present at:
- Monthly Grand Rounds
- Bi-weekly Lecture Series
- Monthly Radiology Imaging Meetings
- Casting Labs
- Surgical Skills Labs
- Opportunity to attend NATA, MAATA, VATA symposium/meetings
- Opportunity to attend Orthopaedic and sports medicine conferences/symposiums
- Present at the Annual NSMI Sports Medicine Symposium
Athletic Trainer in the Physician Practice Setting
Athletic trainers that work in an Orthopaedic clinical setting with a physician are commonly referred to as athletic trainers in the physician practice setting. Athletic trainers in the physician practice setting are trained healthcare professionals who provide semi-autonomous health care under a licensed physician. The National Athletic Trainers’ Association has resources for athletic trainers interested in learning more about AT’s in the physician extender role.
The National Sports Medicines AT residency program provides athletic trainers working experience and training in the physician practice setting. The majority of the residency is completed in the physician’s office learning and performing the daily tasks and responsibilities of a physician extender.
Examples Daily Clinical Responsibilities:
- Patient documentation
- Patient history taking
- Managing clinical flow
- Injury evaluation
- Patient education
- Diagnostic imaging ordering
- Ordering of physical therapy, lab studies
- Authorization of durable medical equipment and injectables
- Communication with staff and patients
- Casting/bracing/splinting
- Assisting with in-office procedures
- Pre- and post-surgical care
- Dressing changes, suture, and staple removal
- Durable medical equipment application and adjustment
- Medical supplies and stocking
- Insurance coding and billing
- Assisting the Orthopaedic Surgeon performing surgery
Educational Components of Clinical Responsibilities:
- Interpretation of diagnostic imaging (x-ray, MRI, CT, Ultrasound, EMG)
- Enhancing evaluation and diagnostic skills
- Special test for Orthopaedic injuries and disorders
- Differential diagnosis
- Cast/splint/brace application
- Surgical anatomy
- How to code and bill for clinical services and surgery
- Dictating skills
- Fracture classifications and treatment
- Surgical intervention and techniques
- Medication and injectable
- Rehabilitation and treatment protocols
The daily duties and responsibilities of the resident differ on each rotation and with each provider’s team; these differing experiences allow the athletic trainer to see the wide career paths that can be available as a physician extender.
With each of the clinical rotations an educational component of Orthopaedic is combined with the experience of becoming a physician extender.
Academic Sessions
Academic sessions are regularly held to discuss a variety of topics that focus on the natural history, etiology, surgery, rehabilitation, and treatment of sport-related injuries. In addition to academic sessions, there are numerous opportunities such as:
- Grand Rounds
- Athletic Training and sport-specific meetings
- Radiology and Imaging meetings
- Case studies
- Symposiums
In addition to attending academic sessions, you will be expected to give two twenty-minute presentations per month. The subject matter of your presentation will be discussed with you and your preceptors during that rotation. The subject matter will relate to an area of interest in your didactic materials. Your presentation must be evidence-based using resources published within the last five years. Topics may include, by not limited to, review of an uncommon injury, imaging, conservative management vs. surgical management of a condition, etc.
Research Overview
As an athletic training resident, you will be asked to complete or work on a research project. The National Sports Medicine Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing excellence in the field of sports medicine and Orthopaedics through education, research, technology, and service. Our goal is to serve as a center for excellence by assembling a community of clinicians, researchers, educators, scientists, and athletes with the purpose of advancing the practice of sports medicine. To help complete your required project, the institute provides you with access to its patient outcome and procedures database.
Quality Improvement Initiative
Lastly, as the athletic training resident, you will complete a quality improvement initiative. Countless examples of QI efforts to improve the care provided within their athletic health care systems exist for ATs. For example, ATs could develop QI initiatives to improve and standardize documentation, reduce the incidence of superficial skin infections, define, and improve desired outcomes for a particular injury, reduce the occurrence of a particular injury, improve patient compliance with patient educations instructions or home exercise programs, and implement new best-practice recommendations for a specific injury or condition. You will decide on a QI initiative and work with your preceptors to complete the project by the completion of your residency.
The National Sports Medicine Institute will also provide an education fund to the athletic training resident to advance their education by attending conferences, purchasing education material, or help with the costs of yearly membership fees.
To learn more about the education and research opportunities our program can offer you check out these pages.