Westfield State Athletic Training Program

Are you attending next week’s Westfield State University TeenU H.E.L.P. (Exploring Health and Medicine) Camp? Be sure to look for Dr. Cacolice’s session on Diagnosis Strategies and Dr. Higgins’ session on Electrotherapies. Westfield State Athletics Westfield State Alumni

EXAMPLE SKILL: Practice Domain 2, Differential Diagnoses: Eliminating possible conditions based on physical observations (signs), such as identifying postural asymmetries (e.g., observing dropped pelvic height). One of the big challenges in learning diagnostic skillsets are the similarity of symptoms and signs with different illness / injuries. The ability to compare and contrast symptoms / signs to develop the diagnoses requires nuanced communication skills, and thorough skillsets to note (sometimes very) slight differences in patient presentation. Add in that an prepares to do this in often busy, noisy, and time sensitive scenarions. Westfield State University Westfield State Athletics Westfield State Alumni

EXAMPLE SKILL: Practice Domain 2, Medical History Taking: Asking targeted diagnostic questions about a patient's pain triggers, occupation, and lifestyle. Here is one of the most unique aspects about being an Athletic Trainer… you get to know your patient *before* they become your patient, because you know these athletes as people. This ability to know the person before the patient is essential to optimizing the content to make a diagnosis. And yes, content from a pertinent patient and condition History can contribute to as much as 86% of an diagnosis in emergent conditions. Westfield State University Westfield State Athletics Westfield State Alumni

EXAMPLE SKILL: Practice Domain 2, Neurological & Cognitive Testing: Administering baseline and post-injury concussion evaluations, checking pupillary response, and testing cranial nerves. At the National Athletic Trainers' Association Convention, MacArthur Fellowship ‘Genius’ Award winner Kevin Guskiewicz PhD, ATC explained how concussion research has really been driven by and . We couldn’t agree more. We’re deeply embedded in one of the settings where concussions occur, are treated, and return to play (and learn) decisions are so common. Because of these, our Neurological and Cognitive Testing learning is so essential. Westfield State University Westfield State Athletics Westfield State Alumni