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CERT UPDATE A PUBLICATION FROM THE BOARD OF CERTIFICATION WINTER 2021 New Heights: Launch of the International Arrangement3 BOCATC.ORG WINTER 2021 2021 BOARD OFFICERS President/Athletic Trainer Director Patrick Sexton, EdD, LAT, ATC Vice President/Athletic Trainer Director René Revis Shingles, PhD, AT, ATC Treasurer/Athletic Trainer Director Mary Kirkland, MS, LAT, ATC Athletic Trainer Director Michael Carroll, MEd, LAT, ATC Athletic Trainer Director Neil Curtis, EdD, LAT, ATC Athletic Trainer Director Kimberly Detwiler, MS, LAT, ATC, CSCS Corporate/Educational Director Diana Settles, MAT, ATC Physician Director Douglas Gregory, MD Public Director Robin Y. Jenkins, MSW, DCSW, CPM Athletic Trainer Director Appointee Christina Eyers, EdD, AT, ATC Physician Director Appointee Katherine Dec, MD, FAAPMR, FAMSSM Chief Executive Officer Anne Minton, MBA INSIDE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Letter From the President 4 Board Members Honored 4 BOC CONNECTION IDEAS Task Force: Initiatives Move Forward, IDEAS Committee Formed 5 Cover Story: New Heights: Launch of the International Arrangement 6 New Board Member and Board Officer Transitions Announced for Upcoming Term 8 First BOC Orthopedic Specialty Exam 9 Continuing Professional Certification Concept Update 10 How BOC360 Benefits Athletic Trainers & Candidates 12 Recertification Checklist: Be Prepared Before You Report 13 New BOC Approved Providers 16 Featured BOC Approved Provider 16 INDUSTRY NEWS In-Depth Look: Athletic Trainer and Head of Clinical Operations for Diligent Robotics 14 PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE AND STATE REGULATION The Disciplinary Action Exchange 9 Legislation News 18 BOC CORNER BOC News in Brief 18 Meet the BOC Volunteers 20 NATA NEWS Latest News and Updates from NATA 19 CANDIDATES 2022 Exam Deadlines At-A-Glance 23 BOC Holiday Closures 23As I approach the end of my term as BOC board president, it’s easy to be nostalgic and look back, but I’d rather direct my view forward. Assessing all that has been accomplished in the past two years, I see a very bright future ahead for our profession. As a team, the BOC has made headway on many key strategic priorities, pushing the envelope while not compromising the high standards expected of our profession. Thanks to the contributions of our many volunteers, partners and staff, we have initiated several major initiatives in 2021. Our first-ever board-certified specialty credential, the Board Certified Specialist in Orthopedics (BCS-O), exam launched this fall and will continue to move our profession forward with the first exam administration in October. This was a major effort, 10 years in the making, and we are proud to welcome our first BCS-O credential holders! The BOC will continue to reach those in the profession whose education and experience align with this advanced credential and promote the value of the BCS-O and ATC ® credentials to employers and potential employers of Athletic Trainers (ATs). This is another step in elevating the role and level of recognition of ATs within health care. Since the development of our Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Advocacy Strategies (IDEAS) Task Force was formed last November, I have had the pleasure of working with this amazing and passionate group of ATs. The task force has worked tirelessly developing strategic initiatives within the areas of the BOC exam, continuing education, the athletic training profession, and BOC administration and operations. I’m also thrilled that our board approved moving IDEAS from a temporary task force to full committee status. The IDEAS Committee, will take the task force’s work and bring it to life. Cathy Ortega, EdD, PT, ATC, OCS and Carla R. Gilson, MA, AT, LAT, CES, have been appointed as co-chairs of the new committee, supported by a strong core of high-energy volunteers. On the international front, the challenges of globalization have created new opportunities for the BOC to be bold in shaping the future of athletic training and therapy credentialing in markets abroad. You can learn more about the new International Arrangement (IA), which launched this summer, and its impact on our profession on page 6. In June, we unveiled a new brand for the BOC. This new bold and modern look provides the perfect vision of what lies ahead for athletic training and the BOC. The new branding has been carried through to a newly configured BOC website, as well as integrated into all communication tools, publications and administrative facets. In addition, BOC360, the portal that houses candidate, AT and BOC Approved Provider profiles, was launched, replacing the old BOC Central. This platform includes enhanced capabilities for information and process management, as well as communication. The goal of easing processes for ATs and providing an elevated user experience will be evident as we wrap up this recertification year. As a reminder when submitting continuing education credits, Evidence Based Practice (EBP) is still a requirement for the current certification period, which ends Dec. 31, 2021. Beginning in 2022, BOC Approved Providers will be seamlessly incorporating EBP principles into all Category A programs. Advancing our profession sometimes requires change, and change can be uncomfortable. As we opened an open comment period for the proposed Continuing Professional Certification (CPC) conceptual framework, we received a storm of feedback communicating frustration about current dynamics of our profession related to workloads, salaries, professional recognition and certification requirements. We also heard that the BOC is not listening, but I can tell you that we are listening to your perspectives. We definitely heard you, positive and negative, and we genuinely appreciate your feedback and have taken it to heart. LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Patrick Sexton, EdD, LAT, ATC 4 BOCATC.ORG WINTER 2021 Board Members Honored Congratulations to BOC board members Mike Carroll MEd, LAT, ATC, Neil Curtis, EdD, LAT, ATC, Christina Eyers, EdD, AT, ATC and Douglas Gregory, MD on recent honors. Their honors are listed below. • Athletic Trainer Director Mike Carroll MEd, LAT, ATC was inducted into the Texas State Athletic Trainers’ Association (TSATA) Hall of Fame. • Athletic Trainer Director Neil Curtis, EdD, LAT, ATC was inducted into the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers’ Society (PATS) Hall of Fame. • Athletic Trainer Director Appointee Christina Eyers, EdD, AT, ATC was inducted into the Michigan Athletic Trainers’ Society (MATS) Hall of Fame. • Physician Director Douglas Gregory, MD was nominated by the Virginia High School League and appointed to serve as a member of the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee.staff and volunteers never wavers. They are dedicated, consistent and strong in their support of our current and future credential holders, your patients, the public and all of the stakeholders we serve. As I sign off, a big thanks to the board, René, all volunteers, CEO Anne Minton and the dedicated BOC staff. In addition, our work with our Strategic Alliance partners keeps our allied organizations swimming in the same direction. As Abraham Lincoln is credited with saying “the best way to predict the future is to create it” and I know that everyone at or associated with the BOC will continue to work to create the best future for our profession. With deep appreciation, Patrick Sexton The Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Advocacy Strategies Task Force (IDEAS), headed by co-chairs Carla R. Gilson, MA, AT, LAT, CES and Cathy Ortega, EdD, PT, ATC, OCS has continued to support the BOC’s Strategic Plan priority of Advocacy since its formation in November 2020. The groundwork of IDEAS will move forward permanently, as the BOC Board of Directors approved the formation of an IDEAS Committee which will take the foundational work of the task force and bring it to life. Ortega and Gilson will lead this new committee as co-chairs, supported by a strong core of high- energy volunteers. The IDEAS Committee has begun work on defined strategic initiatives focused within the areas of the BOC exam, continuing education, the athletic training profession, BOC administration and operations. Action items within a detailed work plan, approved by the BOC board, will guide implementation of these efforts over the next several years. Early projects the committee is undertaking include defining guidelines and reviewing processes that will ensure that practices, processes, documents and communications meet defined levels of being IDEAS reflective and/or IDEAS compliant, based on the intention of each activity. With the launch of the BOC360 portal for Athletic Trainers (ATs), data collection for demographics related to ethnicity and gender information, disability status and other background details has been expanded. As the preeminent source of data collection for ATs, the BOC will continually analyze and utilize this new collection of robust demographic information to serve the profession, assisting with research and analysis of the AT population. With this new data, the BOC will assess issues such as diversity within the athletic training profession. The committee will collaborate with BOC staff on an ongoing basis to support initiatives for recruitment and leadership development of future volunteers and staff. In addition, the committee will work with diversity, equity, inclusion groups within our Strategic Alliance partners to create consistent definitions and terms around IDEAS. The committee’s work with our strategic partners will align IDEAS efforts and allow us to communicate as a profession. For more information on IDEAS, check out “Meet the BOC Volunteers” featuring co-chairs Gilson and Ortega on pages 20-21. IDEAS Task Force: Initiatives Move Forward, IDEAS Committee Formed 5 BOCATC.ORG WINTER 2021 I would like to stress that the CPC conceptual framework presented during the open comment period is not a done deal – that’s why we asked for input from you, our stakeholders. We’ve assimilated all feedback from the open comment phase and will use it to work on the ongoing development of the CPC framework. Look for more to come in the future; more opportunities to participate and more opportunities to provide your feedback Moving forward I know I leave the organization in great hands. The passion, competency and integrity of René Revis Shingles, PhD, AT, ATC will surely push us even harder to achieve things we once thought were out of reach. René, currently serving as vice president, will step into the role of president at the beginning of 2022. René will be the first African American President of the BOC Board of Directors. Your BOC board is a strong, highly qualified, enthusiastic team from a variety of practice settings and they are clearly invested in the work of the BOC and the future of our profession. As Douglas Gregory, MD, our physician director on the board ends his final term I want to take a moment to acknowledge his significant contributions and say thank you to him for his service to the BOC. The work of our BOC New Heights: 6 BOCATC.ORG WINTER 2021 The BOC announced the launch of the new International Arrangement (IA) for the athletic training and therapy profession this summer. The IA for the profession of athletic training and therapy – a unique health care niche - will play a key role in optimizing care, injury prevention, rehabilitation and supporting the rights of patients and the public to achieve their potential to live well. It ensures comparable best practices, quality education and professional standards. The arrangement provides opportunities for those in the profession to expand their reach globally, and ultimately grow the profession worldwide over time. Athletic Trainers (ATs), Athletic Therapists and Sport Rehabilitators can now be mobile on a global scale by creating a pathway to challenge each other’s credentialing exam. Current credentialing organizations included in the IA are the Athletic Rehabilitation Therapy Ireland (ARTI), BOC and the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association (CATA). Additionally, the British Association of Sport Rehabilitators (BASRaT) is in the process of accumulating exam data and as a result, has been granted provisional acceptance into the IA. Organizations who have met all criteria except the exam requirements may be granted provisional acceptance into the IA. “This arrangement aligns qualifications and credentials across international borders by developing a comparability tool tailored to each organization,” said Patrick Sexton, EdD, LAT, ATC, president, BOC Board of Directors. According to Mélanie Levac, executive director of CATA, the IA will help to expand the profession and provide further career mobility and opportunities. “The certification process recognizes credentials in partner countries and establishes equivalencies that enable growth,” said Levac. “The arrangement allows professionals to be mobile on a global scale and helps to expand career opportunities. We are thrilled for our members to be able to pursue work, study or volunteer opportunities in partner countries to develop their skills and expertise. Although Athletic Therapists use different titles in each of the partner countries, the arrangement will build equivalence in the public eye alongside awareness.” BOC Certified ATs in good standing are qualified to apply for exam eligibility through the IA to become credentialed by ARTI or CATA. BASRaT’s IA provisional acceptance also qualifies ATs to be eligible for their newly established exam through the IA process. To initiate an application and access information regarding this process, individuals should visit the website of the organization for which they would like to be credentialed: • ARTI • BASRaT • CATA The IA provides new global opportunities for those in the profession. In addition to enabling mobility, the IA creates a global standard of practice and level of care for patients as organizations in the IA have all agreed to a certain standard level. “Through the comparability process we’ve identified any education gaps from country to country, which can be addressed through additional education,” said Sexton. “This is an opportunity to raise the bar worldwide in the profession as gaps begin to close. This is a unique arrangement for our profession and establishes the international ground rules for credentialing in our profession.” While other professions may work to create a similar comparability tool, the IA Launch of the International Arrangement 7 BOCATC.ORG WINTER 2021 is unique in that it’s a formalized alliance among international partners working in collaboration. It’s more common to see an individual organization create their own comparability tool and allow others to use it, but not in partnership. The IA provides a template for other countries that have a developing athletic training and therapy profession and a clear pathway for the professions to develop in those countries with the support of the World Federation of Athletic Training and Therapy. Enda Whyte, PhD, chair of ARTI’s International Committee sees the IA as a very important advancement for the Athletic Therapy profession in Ireland. “It allows for mobility and international recognition of certified Athletic Therapists who are members of ARTI. This provides opportunities for further study and employment internationally. The new IA builds on the pre-existing Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) which initially opened up opportunities between Ireland and the USA. It is wonderful for this to be expanded, including Canada and Britain,” said Whyte. “It also has important ramifications for the profession in Ireland. It clearly demonstrates a global profession of athletic training and therapy and places ARTI as leaders with our partners the BOC, BASRaT and CATA. This is crucial for ARTI’s continuing efforts to improve state and sporting recognition of the profession in Ireland.” As part of the IA, a credentials evaluation is performed by a world-class third party, International Consultants of Delaware, Inc. (ICD). The IA organizations worked with ICD to create this education comparability tool to facilitate a gap analysis. To review educational areas that will be addressed in the evaluation for each organization, visit the IA website. A petition process has been implemented by which organizations in additional countries can be added. “I am appreciative of our partners in the IA,” said Sexton. “It has been a true partnership that will advance the world-class health care provided by our professions. As such, we are looking to add additional international professional organizations in the future.” According to Steve Aspinall, MSc, GSR, FHEA, chief executive of BASRaT, their organization has consistently been a vocal supporter of the multidisciplinary health care team and the strong role that Sport Rehabilitators and Athletic Trainers/Therapists play as a vital part of that team. He noted that his organization has been working alongside professional peers for the last few decades and have seen these respective professions grow in both quality and strength. “Truly becoming one global profession is a huge step forward and will support the growth and development of our profession wherever they are in the world,” he said. “We are also all now part of a group of critical friends, helping to ensure that we don’t operate in blinkered silos and that public and patient health always comes first. The next decade is going to be an incredibly exciting period for our global profession and one of fantastic growth!” Patrick Sexton, EdD, LAT, ATC BOC Board of Directors President THE INTERNATIONAL ARRANGEMENT For The Athletic Training and Therapy Profession Mélanie Levac CATA Executive Director Enda Whyte, PhD Chair of ARTI’s International Committee Steve Aspinall, MSc, GSR, FHEA, BASRaT Chief ExecutiveNew Board Member and Board Officer Transitions Announced for Upcoming Term 8 BOCATC.ORG WINTER 2021 BOC is pleased to announce newly appointed Athletic Trainer (AT) Director and officer transitions to the Board of Directors. Chris Ashton MS, LAT, ATC will serve as the new AT Director to the BOC Board of Directors and will take office January 2023, following a year of mentorship and learning as an AT director-elect Ashton serves as concussion program coordinator – clinical assistant at Twin Cities Orthopedics in Edina, Minn. His current professional role allows him to collaborate with ATs across a variety of settings, including secondary and collegiate athletics, physician clinics and community outreach. He currently serves on the BOC Professional Practice and Discipline Committee. In addition, Ashton was vice president of the Minnesota Athletic Trainers’ Association (MATA) for four years, as well as serving as chair of the MATA’s Continuing Education Committee and a member on the Committee on Practice Advancement. Ashton works with the Sports Medicine Fellowship within the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Minnesota and serves on its Clinical Competency Committee. In addition, officer transitions include René Revis Shingles, PhD, AT, ATC, currently serving as vice president, stepping into the role of president at the beginning of 2022. Shingles will be the first African American president of the BOC Board of Directors. Shingles took office as an AT director on the Board of Directors in January 2019. In addition to her service on the board, Shingles is currently the board liaison for the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Advocacy Strategies Task Force. Shingles has served on the BOC Cultural Diversity Panel, the Role Delineation Study Panel, as well as previously being an exam item writer for the Exam Development Committee. She has made an impact within the profession serving on various oversight boards, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Educational Council Executive Committee, as well as several activities and volunteer groups focused on inclusion and diversity issues. Shingles has conducted research on diversity issues during her doctoral training. Currently, Shingles is a professor and internship coordinator for athletic training at Central Michigan University, as well as a practicing AT. “Going forward, the BOC will deal with the ‘new normal’ posed by COVID-19, the impact of racial injustice and their effects on credentialing efforts, credential holders and other stakeholders and strategic partners,” said Shingles. “As was shown in the last few months, I envision the BOC maintaining strong leadership amid national and international changes and unrest. My work in inclusion, diversity, equity and advocacy will be beneficial in this regard. We will continue to work on globalization, international credentialing and specialty certifications. Additionally, as we implement our strategic plan, I envision the BOC as leaders in credentialing worldwide. The challenges with globalization create new opportunities for the BOC to be bold in shaping the future of athletic training and therapy, as well as credentialing in other markets. Internally, we will continue to align our policies, procedures and by-laws with best practices.” As Shingles makes this move to president, Michael Carroll, MEd, LAT, ATC, will step into the vice president position. Carroll currently serves as an AT director on the board. His service to the athletic training profession includes serving as a former BOC examiner and model. In addition, he has served on several varied NATA committees, task forces and work groups, in addition to being president of the Southwest Athletic Trainers’ Association. Carroll is the head athletic trainer/assistant athletic director for the Graham Independent School District in Texas, overseeing all ATs that support the health and safety of all student athletes within the school district. He provides support to the district’s athletic director in all aspects of operation. Mary Kirkland, MS, LAT, ATC, current treasurer and an AT director on the board will remain in this position for an additional term. She has served in several leadership roles within the athletic training profession, serving the NATA as their liaison to the board of directors of National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity. In addition, Kirkland provided national leadership during her eight-year tenure as the chair of the NATA’s Council on Employment, working to advance what was then considered emerging settings within athletic training. Kirkland is an athletic training supervisor for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) at John F. Kennedy Space Center. She has spent nearly her entire professional career with NASA and was responsible for establishing NASA’s first athletic training facility at the John F. Kennedy Space Center. Chris Ashton, MS, LAT, ATC René Revis Shingles, PhD, AT, ATC Michael Carroll, MEd, LAT, ATC Mary Kirkland, MS, LAT, ATCFirst BOC Orthopedic Specialty Certification Exam The BOC’s first-ever board-certified specialty credential, the Board Certified Specialist in Orthopedics (BCS-O), exam launched this fall and is a step in elevating the role and level of recognition of Athletic Trainers (ATs) within health care. The inaugural administration of the BOC Orthopedic Specialty Certification Exam took place between Oct. 15 and 24, 2021. Our initial BCS-O credential holders include ATs representing varied practice settings, with knowledge and skills focused in orthopedics. The launch of BOC Specialties, and specifically, the orthopedic specialty, has been more than a decade in the making. Many steps of research and development, combined with a large number of volunteer hours, went into the creation of this exciting advancement for the athletic training profession. The Orthopedic Specialty Certification Exam is an internet- based exam. Applicants have the option to choose their preferred administration method. In addition to being administered at Scantron testing centers, the Orthopedic Specialty Certification Exam was also administered via Live Remote Proctoring. This was the first time this technology has been used by the BOC. Requirements for this option included applicants ensuring their computers met outlined technical requirements. In addition, they had to ensure their testing environment met a minimum set of requirements outlined in the “BOC Orthopedic Specialty Applicant Handbook.” The “BOC Orthopedic Practice Analysis” (OPA) defines the domains (medical knowledge, procedural knowledge, professional practice) and task statements that are assessed on the Orthopedic Specialty Certification Exam. In preparation, we suggest ATs review the domains and task statements in the “Content Outline for the BOC Orthopedic Practice Analysis” comparing them to what they encounter within their specific practice. The knowledge and skills required of each domain and task statement can be found in the full OPA. The exam format consists of the following item types: 1. Stand-Alone Items -multiple choice -multi-select -drag-and-drop -hot spot 2. Focused Testlets -A focused testlet consists of a scenario followed by key/critical items related to that scenario -Each focused testlet may include multiple choice items and/or any of the previous types The exam contains a combination of 125 scored and unscored (experimental) items. There is no practical component. Sample Exam Questions can be found on the BOC website. These sample items are representative of each exam question type to familiarize applicants with the look and feel of the computer interface and its navigation tools. The sample questions provided are not representative of exam content, only format. To maintain the credential, BCS-O credential holders must comply with Continuing Specialty Certification requirements found on the BOC website. Continuing Specialty Certification requirements are required to align with the OPA. Continuing Specialty Certification opportunities will be searchable in the BOC program directory. Live and online educational programs will be accepted. The BOC will continue to reach those in the profession whose education and experience align with this advanced credential and promote the value of the BCS-O and the ATC ® credentials to employers and potential employers of ATs. Dates for the next exam, to be held in February 2022, can be found in the AT Specialties section of the BOC website. One focus of the mission of the BOC is to “assure protection of the public.” The Disciplinary Action Exchange (DAE) was developed to help the BOC, state regulators and consumers locate disciplinary actions involving Athletic Trainers (ATs). The DAE contains final BOC disciplinary actions that have been deemed public, as well as public disciplinary actions taken by state regulatory agencies. All actions posted to the DAE have been confirmed as public information. If you would like more information regarding a disciplinary action taken by the BOC, please email StacyA@bocatc.org. HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT If an AT or member of the public (i.e., consumer, patient, employer, colleague) believes that an AT has violated the “BOC Standards of Professional Practice,” they can file a complaint on the BOC website. Fortunately, the BOC receives very few complaints against BOC Certified ATs. When a complaint is filed, the BOC complies with the “Professional Practice and Discipline Guidelines and Procedures.” The BOC also encourages ATs or members of the public to file a complaint with the state in which the violation occurred. You can find state contact information on the BOC website. The Disciplinary Action Exchange 9 BOCATC.ORG WINTER 2021Next >