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MISSION STATEMENT
 The University of Houston Sports Medicine Department’s primary mission is to commit our department to providing the highest quality of health care and medical coverage for all injuries and illnesses to all student-athletes regardless of sport, gender, or ability level. Our secondary mission will enhance the primary mission by providing clinical education, mentorship and development of student athletic trainers into productive members of all health-related professions and society. This mission will assist the overall mission of the entire University of Houston Athletic Department.
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The primary goal of the sports medicine staff is to protect and return the injured student-athlete to sport participation as quickly and safely as possible. The athletic trainer possesses knowledge in injury prevention, injury recognition, injury evaluation and assessment and the treatment, rehabilitation and reconditioning of all athletic injuries. Our main objective is to help prevent athletic related injuries from occurring. Recognizing that some injuries are inevitable, our staff is available to render first aid, provide follow-up treatment and rehabilitation, and counsel student-athletes and their families on available treatment options. The staff maintains current in knowledge and skill through participation in regular in-services and attendance at education conferences annually.
CONDUCT: PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL QUALITIES
Due to the clinical nature of the staff and student athletic trainer’s positions, it is expected that all staff and students will conduct themselves in a professional and ethical manner. Unprofessional and unethical behavior will not be tolerated and will be dealt with by the administrative staff. Anyone who engages in unprofessional or unethical behavior may be dismissed from the program.
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• Attitude - Positive
• Effort – Work ethic
• Action – Self-disciplined and self-reliant
• Communication - Relate to peers and staff in a spirit of collaboration and mutual respect
• Relate to athletes and their families with compassion, truthfulness and respect for their experience and dignity
• Attain personal mastery of medical knowledge and athletic training skills through honest effort
• HIPAA - Recognize and honor privileged information from athletes, peers, and staff
• Conduct themselves in accordance with University of Houston policies
• Sexual Misconduct
CERTIFIED ATHLETIC TRAINER (AT or ATC)Â
Athletic Trainers (ATs) are healthcare professionals who render service or treatment, under the direction of or in collaboration with a physician, in accordance with their education and training and the states' statutes, rules and regulations.
As a part of the healthcare team, services provided by ATs include injury and illness prevention, wellness promotion and education, emergent care, examination and clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention, and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. Athletic training is recognized by the
American Medical Association (AMA) as a health care profession.
ATHLETIC TRAINING PRACTICE DOMAINS
• Risk Reduction, Wellness and Health Literacy
• Assessment, Evaluation and Diagnosis
• Critical Incident Management
• Therapeutic Intervention Â
• Healthcare Administration and Professional Responsibility
ATHLETIC TRAINING EDUCATIONAL COMPETENCIES
• Evidence-Based Practice
• Prevention and Health Promotion
• Clinical Examination and Diagnosis
• Acute Care of Injuries and Illnesses
• Therapeutic Interventions
• Psychosocial Strategies and Referral
• Healthcare Administration
• Professional Development and Responsibility
• Clinical Integration Proficiencies
STRATEGIC ALLIANCE
• Board of Certification (BOC)
• Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE)
• National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA)
• NATA Research and Educational Foundation (NATA Foundation)
LINKS
NATA Code of Ethics
BOC Practice Domains
BOC Standards of Professional Practice
Texas AT Occupation Code
Texas AT Scope of Practice
Athletic Training Regulating Organizations
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