Athletic Trainer shortages continue to challenge schools across the country, and a new report from southeastern Minnesota highlights both the obstacles and the creative partnerships helping student-athletes receive quality care.
For Athletic Trainer Owen Mills, the issue goes beyond recruiting.
"It's not ATs leaving to go to other AT jobs," he said. "It's ATs leaving the profession as a whole, because no one wants to work 50 hours minimum a week... for not a ton of money." Mills added that the master's degree requirement, combined with rural salaries, makes recruitment even more difficult.
Despite the challenges, Athletic Trainers continue finding ways to support their communities. Jess Morken, who divides her time between two rural schools, often coordinates care across campuses and even answers injury questions while away from work.
"I feel really blessed to work for where I do," she said, while acknowledging that covering multiple schools can stretch resources thin.
Healthcare leaders emphasized that partnerships between schools and medical providers are becoming increasingly important. Shared Athletic Trainers, emergency action plans, and additional coach and EMT training help ensure athletes receive timely care when an Athletic Trainer cannot be present.
"The safety of the student athletes is first and foremost," Mills said. "Having people understand what we do... helps ensure that all the kids are getting the care that they need."
The report underscores an important reality for Athletic Trainers nationwide: while staffing shortages remain a concern, collaboration between schools, hospitals, and local healthcare systems continues to help bridge the gap and keep athletes as safe as possible. See the full story here!
The report cites budget constraints, geographic location, high turnover, and a limited number of qualified candidates as the primary reasons many rural schools struggle to fill Athletic Trainer positions.
Many schools partner with hospitals or healthcare systems, share Athletic Trainers with neighboring districts, and develop emergency action plans when full-time coverage isn't available.
Hospital partnerships allow schools to provide sports medicine expertise that many districts could not otherwise afford while helping coordinate injury care and emergency response.
Emergency action plans help coaches, EMS personnel, and school staff respond appropriately to serious injuries when an Athletic Trainer is unavailable, improving athlete safety.
Healthy Roster helps Athletic Trainers streamline documentation, improve communication, and manage athlete care from the sideline to the athletic training room. Built mobile-first, Healthy Roster gives sports medicine professionals the tools they need to document injuries, coordinate care, and keep athletes safe—whether they're serving one school or several.