ATHLETIC TRAINING

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE


The Defiance College athletic training program (ATP) consists of several clinical rotation requirements. Some of the rotations are completed at off-campus athletic training settings such as the Mercy Defiance Clinic, local physical therapy clinics, and local high schools. In order to fulfill the requirements of these rotations, which are completed throughout the three-year pre-professional athletic training sequence, a student in the ATP must have access to transportation.


CLINICAL HOUR REQUIREMENT

All students who are assigned to a clinical rotation are required to attend all practices, games, and travel as discussed with the clinical supervisor (preceptor). If you are unable to attend, please notify the clinical supervisor as soon as possible. Students should average around 20 hours per week in the clinical setting and have at least one day off. All clinical hours should be recorded on the ATrack as well as documentation of physician exposure. Clinical hours will be monitored by the clinical education coordinator. If you have a concern with the clinical hours, please contact the clinical education coordinator.


LEVEL 2 (Sophomore)

AT students are exposed to a variety of clinical assignments during their sophomore year. These clinical assignments will be under the direct supervision of a preceptor. Students are assigned three rotations in the fall semester and two rotations in the spring semester. One of these rotations is a general medical rotation at the Mercy Defiance Clinic. During this rotation, the student observes a physician assistant in family practice and physicians in the Urgent Care settings. Additionally, during the fall/spring semester, the AT student will be assigned to a preceptor and clinical assignment with an individual sport. Students may be assigned an upper or lower extremity during the spring semester of their sophomore year. All students are required to return for pre-season football camp (equipment-intensive). Students not assigned a specific clinical assignment with a sport are scheduled 6-8 hours a week to continue progress on competency/proficiency mastery. By the end of the sophomore year, the AT student will have completed a minimum of 4 (four) clinical assignments and acquired a minimum of 200 supervised clinical experience hours.


LEVEL 3 (Junior)

Students are assigned two clinical assignments each year. These clinical assignments will be under the direct supervision of a preceptor, including attendance at all practices, games, and travel. This assignment will include continued exposure to the general medical category. During their senior year, the student is assigned a clinical rotation with football or lacrosse, as an equipment intensive sport, as well as one male and one female clinical rotation. Students will be assigned a clinical rotation with an upper and lower extremity sport during this junior/senior year. All students are required to return for pre-season football camp (equipment-intensive). Students not assigned a specific clinical assignment with a sport are scheduled 6-8 hours a week to continue progress on competency/proficiency mastery. By the end of the junior year, the AT student will have completed a minimum of 6 (six) clinical assignments and acquired a minimum of 500 supervised clinical experience hours.


LEVEL 4 (Senior)

Students are assigned two clinical assignments each year. These clinical assignments will be under the direct supervision of a preceptor. This will include all practices, games, and travel. All students are required to return for pre-season football camp (equipment-intensive). If a student did not complete the equipment-intensive rotation in their junior year, it must be completed during their senior year. Students not assigned a specific clinical assignment with a sport are scheduled 6-8 hours a week to continue progress on competency/proficiency mastery. By the end of the senior year, the AT student will have completed a minimum of 7 (seven) clinical assignments and have acquired a minimum of 800 supervised clinical experience hours.


LEVEL 4 (Senior - optional)

An athletic training student may compete an internship if they also have a double major in wellness. Interns apply what they have studied at Defiance College and apply it to real, on-the-job situations prior to graduation. If the AT student is not a wellness major also, they are assigned to a preceptor for clinical assignment and competency/proficiency mastery. Prior to beginning an internship, most competencies as listed in Amato 2006 should be mastered and verified by a preceptor and approved by the PD.