Jun 25, 2016NATA 2016: So long, Baltimore!
Check back here to read T&C Managing Editor Mary Kate Murphy’s insights from the floor of the NATA 67th Clinical Symposia & AT Expo in Baltimore. Mary Kate is armed with a pen, pad, and a list of educational seminars and will spend the rest of the week taking in the sights and sounds of the convention, sharing her observations in this blog.
Saturday, 1:27 p.m.
Welp, the 2016 NATA Clinical Symposia and AT Expo is a wrap for the T&C gang. We just broke down our booth, and we’re headed out of Baltimore as I type.
Before we hit the road, though, I got the chance to take in one last educational seminar. This morning, I attended the first two presentations of “Incorporating Cultural Competence in the Evidence-Based Framework,” sponsored by the NATA Ethnic Diversity Advisory Committee. A big takeaway of both of these presentations was not forgetting about the patient’s needs and values when providing evidence-based practice. Fortunately, both speakers gave great tips on how to do this.
First, Christopher Kuenze, PhD, ATC, Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Michigan State University, discussed “Patient Values: The Forgotten Aspect of Evidence-Based Practice.” He emphasized that athletic trainers should spend more time thinking about who patients are before diving into treatment. This will help them view patients as not just a sprained ankle or torn ACL, but as a human being whose thoughts, feelings, and concerns should be accounted for. Along these lines, Dr. Kuenze emphasized that rapid return to play should not always be the primary clinical goal–patient satisfaction should also be considered. How can athletic trainers do this? Through open dialogue and patient-rated outcomes.
Next, Kysha Harriell, PhD, LAT, ATC, Associate Clinical Professor and Athletic Training Program Director at the University of Miami, presented on “Open Lines of Communication: How to Talk to Patients About their Values.” Her talk focused mostly on the importance of athletic trainers being culturally competent, and she provided five steps on how they can make progress in this area:
1. Help your patients feel comfortable: When patients come to your clinic for the first time, explain your role and what the process will be like. Be accepting of presence of family members/support network, and use terms like “partner” or “spouse” instead of boyfriend/girlfriend or wife/husband.
2. Establish a relationship: Ask the athlete how they would like to be addressed, and then use their preferred name. Have them explain their goals for their visit and let them know that they are an active member of their health care plan.
3. Show them respect: Understand, accept, and be respectful of the cultural norms that may influence them.
4. Provide information in ways your patients will accept: What cultural, religious, or spiritual beliefs will impact their health care?
5. Cross-cultural communication: Basically, this comes down to “learning how to ask.” Dr. Harriell presented what’s considered the “most important culturally competent question” athletic trainers can ask: “What matters most to the patient as it relates to their experience, illness, or treatment?”
I had to go help the T&C team break down our booth after Dr. Harriell presented, so I didn’t catch much of the third presentation: “Incorporating Patient Values in the Educational Experience” by Justin Tatman, MA, ATC, Clinical Education Coordinator for the Athletic Training Program at the University of Miami. What I did hear was very interesting, so I bet the rest was great, as well!
I had better wrap up here so I can help navigate. Thanks to the NATA for having us at this year’s Clinical Symposia and AT Expo! The seminars were excellent, as usual, and spending time with readers at the booth was a blast! We received close to 600 new or renewed subscriptions! So long, Baltimore. I’m already looking forward to seeing everyone next year in Houston!
