Beyond The Game - The Cost Efficiency of Athletic Trainers

Athletic Trainers (ATs) are highly trained professionals required to complete between 800-900 clinical hours during their studies to get their degree. ATs must be knowledgeable in everything from preseason physicals to emergency care, injury treatment and diagnosis, clinical exams, therapeutic interventions, when and how to refer athletes to practitioners, as well as administration and legal responsibilities. ATs significantly impact athlete health, resulting in lower injury rates, improved diagnosis and informed return-to-play decisions for injuries such as concussion, and fewer recurrent injuries. Click here to learn more about their qualifications and role in athlete safety directly from an expert in the field.  

Not only do Athletic Trainers contribute to athlete injury prevention and immediate care, but they also contribute to youth sports organization’s financial efficiency or simply put, how well invested money benefits a population. While there has historically been a lack of research surrounding potential medical savings upon employing ATs, recent research provides evidence pointing to their irrefutable cost efficiency. Primarily, ATs take on a proactive role among their athletes in which their early intervention helps to reduce long-term medical and rehab costs. They can quickly assess and address injuries when they occur, potentially preventing more serious complications requiring costly medical interventions. One study concluded that AT services were effective in reducing overall and recurrent injury rates in female high school soccer and basketball athletes, which could potentially lead to reduced health care costs. (3) What’s more, according to InjureFree’s platform reports, 43.43% of athlete injuries indicated that these athletes immediately returned to activity following a potential injury. Without ATs, many of those athletes would have remained out of play due to lack of appropriate injury management.  

Additionally, ATs immediate care following an injury may allow the athlete to avoid costly emergent care visits. With timely intervention and appropriate care, the need for expensive medical treatments, surgeries, or long-term rehabilitation can be minimized. Another 2019 study found evidence that AT services in high schools may reduce emergency visits and help contain health care costs. (2) Overall, by comparing costs of preventive health measures versus reactive medical treatments among youth sport athletes, it becomes clear that ATs provide organizations with significant financial efficiency.  

From an insurance perspective, employing Athletic Trainers can also lead to reduced insurance premiums for youth sports organizations, as ATs can help keep insurance claims down as a result of effective injury management and prevention. Finally, from a legal standpoint, ATs provide support to organizations in complying with safety regulations and standards and reducing the risk of legal costs and lawsuits associated with potential injuries. 

Though 1 in 3 high schools in the United States do not have access to Athletic Trainers, it’s abundantly clear that ATs are integral to athletes’ safety as well as significant cost reductions associated with escalated care. That said, it’s remiss to ignore various barriers that organizations might face when considering AT services. First, sourcing ATs can prove to be a time consuming and arduous process for organizations. Additionally, more rural districts might not have access to trainers given their geographical locations. Finally, the sheer cost of employing an AT may present issues for organizations as well. To address these barriers, InjureFree’s Athletic Trainer Placement Service helps organizations find and manage Athletic Trainers for their sports events. Whether it's through connecting with independent Athletic Trainers, sharing AT resources among districts or teaming up with local health systems, InjureFree ensures that the right Athletic Trainers are available to support your athletes and organization. To address the financial barrier to employing ATs, the Childress Institute suggests seeking funding through youth organizations and/or local supporting stakeholders (i.e., charitable organizations, raised registration fees, or local business sponsors. (4) 

Ultimately, investing in athlete health and well-being is a strategic financial decision and one that youth sports organizations can benefit from in the long term through improved athlete performance, reduced injury rates, and significant cost efficiencies. Click here to learn more about InjureFree’s Athletic Trainer solution. 

References 

1. InjureFree.com 

2. Li T, Johnson ST, Koester MC, Hommel A, Norcross MF. The impact of high school athletic trainer services on medical payments and utilizations: a microsimulation analysis on medical claims. Inj Epidemiol . 2019;6:15. doi: 10.1186/s40621-019-0194-y.

3. Pierpoint LA, LaBella CR, Collins CL, Fields SK, Dawn Comstock R. Injuries in girls' soccer and basketball: a comparison of high schools with and without athletic trainers. Inj Epidemiol . 2018;5:29. doi: 10.1186/s40621-018-0159-6. 

4. Urban JE. Athletic trainers key for youth sports. Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma website. https://saveinjuredkids.org/blog/athletic-trainers-key-for-youth-sports-safety/. 2015.