Since 1995, our department has had contractual agreements with the area high schools and colleges for Athletic Training and Sports Medicine services.
Athletic Trainers (AT’s) collaborate with physicians and are recognized by the American Medical Association as allied health care professionals. They specialize in the prevention, clinical evaluation and diagnosis, immediate care and first aid, and rehabilitation and reconditioning of musculoskeletal injuries for people of all ages, with their focus on competitive and recreational athletes. AT’s function under the supervision of a physician, as required by state licensing regulations.
At Adirondack Health (AH), our athletic trainers provide injury management services to 6 of our area high schools and colleges including- Ausable Valley Central School, Lake Placid Central School, Saranac Lake Central School, Tupper Lake Central School, North Country Community College, and Paul Smiths College. We are contracted to provide AT service, as determined by each school, to cover sporting events including football, soccer ,and hockey. Along with game over-sight, we are also on site at schools for injury evaluation for all student athletes, usually 2 days a week.
ATCs should not be confused with fitness trainers or personals trainers, who are not health care workers; however, many ATs possess a strength and conditioning certification to complement their role as an ATC.
The AT’s at Adirondack Health are also involved in fitness coaching for the general public. They provide programs to improve the health of our population along with sports performance programming for our local athletes.
