Self-Funding a Postprofessional Athletic Training Residency

Abstract

Context: Postprofessional athletic training residencies (PP-ATRs) are formal educational programs that provide advanced professional preparation for an athletic trainer. These programs are intended to provide clinical and didactic education in a focused area of clinical practice. Identifying and procuring funding to support athletic training residencies can be extremely difficult.Objective: To provide a basic understanding of the foundational requirements of a PP-ATR and to explain some of the basic principles behind funding a PP-ATR.Conclusion(s): Orthopaedic and physical therapy residencies have been able to demonstrate supporting the costs of those residencies through billable patient visits and/or improving clinic efficiency. As they progress through training, athletic training residents are able to increase patient volumes by 3-4 patients in a physician practice setting. In addition, the resident also indirectly generates revenue for the practice, thus offsetting the cost of the residency.