CURRICULUM

Content of the REPS Onboarding™ Deliverable to the Athlete

Objectives of Onboarding

·        Familiarize athletes with the sports medicine team, facilities, protocols, and resources.

·        Establish open channels for discussing concerns, reporting injuries, seeking resources and embracing guidance.

·        Model actions to take an active role in their health and recovery processes.

·        Define key terms and processes in the healthcare system

Phase 1     Understanding the Sports Medicine Environment

·        The sports medicine environment encompasses a multidisciplinary team of professionals, including, among others, athletic trainers, physical therapists, physicians, nutritionists, and mental health counselors. Its primary role is to prevent, assess, treat, and rehabilitate sports-related injuries while promoting overall health and performance.

·        For student athletes, entering this environment can be both empowering and overwhelming. It is essential to provide not only clarity on available resources but also to lay the foundation of collaboration between the student-athlete and the healthcare team.

Phase 2     The Plan of Care as a Teaching Tool

The Plan of Care is a personalized roadmap designed to address the individual health and performance needs of each athlete. It outlines strategies for injury prevention, treatment protocols, rehabilitation plans, and long-term health goals.

Components of a Plan of Care (POC)

·        Injury Prevention: Regular screenings, strength training, flexibility exercises, and education on proper techniques.

·        Treatment Protocols: Immediate care for injuries, ranging from acute management to long-term recovery strategies.

·        Rehabilitation Plans: Step-by-step exercises and milestones to ensure full recovery and prevent recurring injuries.

·        Health and Wellness Goals: Nutrition, mental well-being, and sleep optimization to enhance overall performance.

Introducing the Plan of Care

During onboarding, each athlete should receive a detailed explanation of their role when presented with a POC. The student athlete should acknowledge they understand the reason for a personalized Plan of Care. Key steps include:

·        Initial Assessments: Conduct physical evaluations and gather a thorough medical history.

·        Customized Roadmap: Develop a plan tailored to the athlete’s unique needs, sport, and goals.

·        Mandatory acknowledgement from the student athlete as to their awareness of the POC and their responsibilities to ask questions for clarity and agreement.

·        Transparent Communication: Discuss the details and goals of the Plan of Care and address any questions or concerns.

Phase 3     Setting Expectations

Clear expectations are crucial to fostering a cohesive relationship between student-athletes and the sports medicine team. These expectations must encompass behavior, compliance, and communication.

Behavioral Expectations

·        Respect: Treat medical staff, teammates, and facilities with courtesy and professionalism.

·        Punctuality: Attend scheduled appointments on time to maximize efficiency and respect others' time.

·        Adherence: Follow prescribed treatment plans and protocols diligently.

·        The student athlete can pause the POC at any time for clarity or discomfort.

Commitment Expectations

Student athletes are expected to actively participate in their care and training. This includes:

·        Maintaining consistency in rehabilitation exercises.

·        Reporting symptoms or injuries promptly.

·        Wear appropriate clothing for the Plan of Care.

·        Become educated in draping and acknowledgement of their knowledge and agreement when a POC would include touch of the buttocks, chest, inguinal canal, and groin.

Communication Expectations

Building trust through open communication is essential. Student athletes should:

·        Inform medical staff of any changes in their health or performance.

·        Ask questions to clarify doubts. Questions, and concerns about treatment or procedures.

·        Provide honest feedback about their progress and challenges.

Phase 4     Defining Accountabilities

Accountability ensures that both student-athletes and the sports medicine team work collaboratively toward shared goals.

Responsibilities of Student Athletes

·        Consistently follow their Plan of Care.

·        Acknowledge their attendance at the REPS Onboarding™ process

·        Communicate openly with their designated athletic trainer about injuries, pain, confusion of the plan, or discomfort.

·        Take ownership of their recovery and preventive practices.

Responsibilities of the Sports Medicine Team

·        Provide accurate diagnoses and effective treatment plans.

·        Explain the POC and get acknowledgement from the SA and add narrative to the medical documentation.

·        Maintain open lines of communication with athletes and coaching staff.

·        Complete medical documentation in a timely manner (per University P&P)

·        Monitor progress and adjust strategies as necessary.

·        Insure confidentiality of the healthcare process and cascading discussions.

Phase 5     Fostering a Collaborative Culture

Onboarding is not merely a procedural formality; it is an opportunity to build a shared investment of trust, collaboration, and mutual respect. By aligning the efforts of student athletes and the sports medicine team, the onboarding process can empower student athletes to ask questions about activities in the sports medicine facilities as well as healthcare on the road and prioritize their health and achieve their full potential.

Engagement Strategies

·        Workshops: Conduct interactive sessions on injury prevention, nutrition, and mental health. Include sessions for coaches as well as the student athlete.

·        Mentorship: Pair new athletes with experienced teammates who can guide them through the process. Document the process.

·        Feedback Mechanisms: Create opportunities for athletes to share their experiences and suggestions.

Phase 6     Confidentiality, Rights, Post Participation and Gambling

·        Communicate the boundaries of confidentiality

·        Reinforce the athlete Rights and the Providers Rights

·        Define post participation processes

·        Make use of the Onboarding process to link confidentiality, Training Room activities and gambling

Conclusion

Onboarding student-athletes into the collegiate athletic healthcare environment is a pivotal step in their athletic journey. By collaborating with REPS Onboarding™ the process equips the student-athlete knowledge needed to be an active participant in their healthcare.

The University engagement with REPS Onboarding™ establishes a foundation of professionalism and a clear signal of an investment for each student-athlete and healthcare provider. Through education, communication, and empowerment, the University, healthcare team and student-athletes can work hand in hand to ensure optimal performance and long-term well-being.

CONFIDENTIAL

REPS ONBOARDING™