Certified Athletic Trainer

About Shepherd Center 

With five decades of experience, Shepherd Center provides world-class clinical care, research, and family support for people experiencing the most complex conditions, including spinal cord and brain injuries, multi-trauma, traumatic amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and pain. An elite center ranked by U.S. News as one of the nation's top hospitals for rehabilitation, Shepherd Center is also recognized as both Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems. Shepherd is the only rehabilitation facility in the nation with an intensive care unit on-site, allowing us to care for the most complex patients and begin the rehabilitation process sooner. Shepherd Center treats thousands of patients annually with unmatched expertise and unwavering compassion to help them begin again.

Shepherd Center's culture is one of hope, humor, and hard work. You will enjoy career growth, strong relationships with co-workers, strong support from leadership, and fun activities that have kept over 12% of staff members working at Shepherd for more than 20 years.  

The Athletic Trainer provides quality patient care to including assessment, treatment, and care co-ordination per the NATABOC and the State of Georgia Athletic Training Credentialing Board and monitoring physician. The Athletic Trainer works alongside the MD to develop an appropriate and individualized treatment plan for each patient. In this active and hands-on role, the Athletic Trainer has the opportunity to greatly improve the patient experience through rehabilitation services.

Job Responsibilities

• The Athletic Trainer supports daily clinic operations.

• Works under the direct clinical supervision of Shepherd Center Physician performing:

  • Provides acute concussion care, including post-concussion evaluation, monitoring of symptoms, and return to previous activities.

  • Assesses individual medical condition, rehabilitation needs, and with the development of an individualized treatment plan in conjunction with MD.

  • Order entry required for patient plan of care, including internal/external referrals, therapy orders, diagnostics/labs, and medication refills

  • Interprets diagnostic studies

  • Performs Concussion testing:  Balance Skills test (BESS/SOT/BERTEC/Balance Master, Reaction Time (Drop Stick), Cognitive ( SAC, MoCA, ImPACT), and Ocular Motor (OMS/VOR/VNG)

  • Documents in EHR with MD co-sign for patient visits (in-person and via Telehealth), following all outlined guidelines, to include history, physical exam, diagnostic test results, impression, plan, and patient learning.

  • Interprets diagnostic studies in conjunction with MD

• Assists in research activities as assigned

• Rooms patients during clinic, performs a thorough medical history, thorough history of injury or condition, identify primary complaint, assess pain level, medication and allergy review, and all other required EHR documentation per policy

• Provides patient/caregiver education

• Assists the physician with medical procedures performed in clinic to include set up, drawing up medications, EHR documentation and break down.

• Venipuncture

• Practices positive and engaging professional behavior

• Respects patient's privacy and confidentiality as per HIPAA regulations.

• Adheres to patient/family centered principles using the communication and engagement tools (OARS/AIDECT).

• Performs consistently within Shepherd Center standards, policies and procedures.

• Ensures professional development by participating in professional activities and organizations in order to maintain knowledge of current trends, practices, and development

• Performs other duties as required/requested/assigned.

Required Minimum Education:

• A baccalaureate or graduate degree in athletic training or related health profession.

Required Minimum Certification:

• Certification by the National Athletic Trainer's Association

• Georgia's Athletic Trainer license

• AHA BLS CPR required

• IMPACT/MOCA/CITI preferred

Required Minimum Experience:

• Two (2) years minimum experience working as an athletic trainer in a clinical setting, experience in rehabilitation with a focus in concussion and mild traumatic brain injury preferred.

Required Minimum Skills:

• Basic computer skills.

• Demonstrate clinical proficiency and manual dexterity in order to manipulate treatment equipment.

• Highly motivated with a positive attitude.

• Excellent problem-solving skills.

• Displays effective verbal and non-verbal communication.

• Adapts to changing work demands and work environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in rehabilitation with a focus in concussion and mild traumatic brain injury preferred.

• Master's degree in sports medicine or related field preferred.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to transfer and position patients, consistent with lifting up to 35 lbs.

Working Conditions:

• Normal patient care environment.

• Some potential for exposure to blood and body fluids.

• Some potential for exposure to infectious diseases.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification.  They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified.

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