Department: Physical Therapy
Hours: Fulltime
Description:
Position Overview: The Certified Athletic Trainer at Floyd County Medical Center specializes in the prevention, evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation, and management of injuries and medical conditions affecting physically active individuals. The Certified Athletic Trainer provides comprehensive sports medicine services across clinical, community, and athletic settings, promoting the health, safety, wellness, and performance of athletes and physically active individuals of all ages.
The Athletic Trainer serves as a vital link between patients, physicians and providers, physical therapists, orthopedic and sports medicine services, coaches, schools, and community organizations, ensuring coordinated, evidence-based care and timely access to specialty services when appropriate.
Responsibilities include, within the scope of practice, injury prevention, immediate and emergency care, clinical evaluation and injury management, therapeutic intervention, rehabilitation guidance, patient education, and return-to-activity planning.
The Certified Athletic Trainer supports the growth and development of FCMC’s Physical Therapy Department and Orthopedics and Sports Medicine services through direct patient care, community outreach, sports medicine program development, and athletic training services provided to local schools, athletic organizations, and community partners.
These outreach services focus on three key areas:
- Injury Prevention: Reducing the risk of injuries through education, preparation, conditioning, and early intervention.
- Immediate Care: Providing prompt assessment, treatment, and emergency response when injuries occur.
- Specialty Sports Medicine Access: Connecting athletes with expert orthopedic and sports medicine care when advanced evaluation or treatment is needed.
The Certified Athletic Trainer serves as a primary sports medicine resource for assigned athletic programs and, within scope of practice, provides on-site medical coverage, injury evaluation and management, concussion assessment and oversight, emergency response, rehabilitation guidance, and coordination of care throughout athletic seasons.
Clinical and Rehabilitation Services
- Assists in the evaluation and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and conditions within the scope of practice and in collaboration with physicians and providers, orthopedic and sports medicine services, and Physical Therapy Department staff.
- Collaborates in the development and implementation of rehabilitation and conditioning programs within scope of practice.
- Assists patients in safely returning to sport, work, and activities of daily living.
- Provides therapeutic exercise instruction and patient education.
- Assists with sports medicine clinic operations and orthopedic patient support activities as assigned.
- Participates in interdisciplinary care planning with Physical Therapy Department staff, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine providers, and other healthcare professionals.
- Maintains patient documentation in accordance with regulatory and organizational requirements.
Community Outreach and Sports Medicine Program Development
- Represents Floyd County Medical Center, the Physical Therapy Department, and Orthopedics and Sports Medicine services at community events, educational programs, athletic events, and outreach initiatives.
- Assists in the development, promotion, and expansion of sports medicine, orthopedic, rehabilitation, and wellness services.
- Builds and maintains collaborative relationships with schools, athletic organizations, physicians, and community partners.
- Participates in injury prevention programming, educational presentations, and community health initiatives.
- Supports strategic initiatives designed to improve access to athletic training, orthopedic, and sports medicine services throughout the communities served by Floyd County Medical Center.
- Assists in the development of outreach partnerships and sports medicine service line growth opportunities.
Athletic Coverage Responsibilities
- Provides athletic training coverage for assigned practices, competitions, tournaments, camps, and special events.
- Coordinates athletic coverage schedules in collaboration with the Physical Therapy Director and community partners.
- Maintains flexibility to provide evening, weekend, holiday, and seasonal coverage as required.
- Assesses athletic venues for safety and emergency preparedness.
- Maintains required emergency equipment and supplies for athletic events.
- Facilitates referral and follow-up processes for athletes requiring physical therapy, orthopedic evaluation, imaging services, or specialty sports medicine care.
Assumes other duties and responsibilities that are related and appropriate to the position and area. The above responsibilities are a general description of the level and nature of the work assigned to this classification and are not to be considered as all-inclusive.
Minimum Education and/or Experience Required:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited Athletic Training program required; Master’s degree preferred.
- Previous athletic training experience in high school, collegiate, clinical, orthopedic, sports medicine, or rehabilitation settings preferred.
Additional Qualifications:
- Basic computer skills.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills required.
- Self-motivated.
- Must be able to read, write, comprehend, and verbally communicate in English fluently.
- Integrity and ability to work independently. Initiative to take on tasks without being told.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Adaptive to change; embraces change with optimism.
- Ability to problem solve and think critically.
- Ability to prioritize assignments and manage time efficiently.
- Ability to operate technologies and equipment associated with this position.
- Must have a service mindset and a commitment to continuous learning.
- Ability to work outside of regularly scheduled hours, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and seasonal athletic events, as needed.
- Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients, families, physicians, physical therapists, coaches, school personnel, and community partners.
- Knowledge of sports medicine principles, injury prevention strategies, concussion management protocols, emergency response procedures, and rehabilitation practices.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment.
- Mandatory Reporter within six (6) months of hire.
Licensure/Certification Required:
- Current certification by the Board of Certification (BOC) for Athletic Trainers (ATC).
- Current licensure as an Athletic Trainer in the State of Iowa (LAT), or ability to obtain prior to employment.
- Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification, including Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training.
Physical/Cognitive Requirements:
- Sit: Occasionally
- Stand: Frequent
- Walk: Frequent
- Lift:
- 10 pounds Frequent
- 25 pounds: Frequent
- 50 pounds*: Occasionally
- 75 pounds*: Occasionally
- Greater than 100 pounds*: Occasionally
- Carry:
- 10 pounds: Frequent
- 25 pounds: Frequent
- 50 pounds*: Occasionally
- 75 pounds*: Occasionally
- Greater than 100 pounds*: Occasionally
- Push/Pull:
- 10 pounds: Frequent
- 25 pounds: Frequent
- 50 pounds*: Occasionally
- 75 pounds*: Occasionally
- Greater than 100 pounds*: Occasionally
- Squat/Kneel/Crouch: Frequent
- Climb: Occasionally
- Balance: Frequent
- Twist: Frequent
- Bend/Stoop: Frequent
- Crawl: Occasionally
- Grasp/Grip: Constant
- Talk: Constant
- Hear: Constant
- See: Constant
- Anything greater than 50 pounds- assist of two or more, or mechanical lift are required.
Environmental Factors:
- May be exposed to communicable diseases due to working in a health care environment.
- Regularly works in gymnasiums, athletic facilities, outdoor athletic venues, schools, clinics, and community settings.
- Exposure to varying weather conditions, including heat, cold, rain, and humidity during outdoor athletic events.
- Moderate to high noise levels may occur during athletic practices, competitions, and events.
- May come in contact with blood and other body fluids.
- May be exposed to physically demanding and emergency situations requiring rapid response and decision-making.
- Travel within the service area may be required to provide athletic coverage and outreach services.
Organizational Relationships:
Reports to: Rehabilitation Services Director
Employees supervised: None
