Comparison of the Effect of Medical Assistants Versus Certified Athletic Trainers on Patient Volumes and Revenue Generation in a Sports Medicine Practice

• Authors: Forest Q. Pecha, St. Luke's Sports Medicine; John W Xerogeanes, Emory University; Spero Karas, Emory University; Megan E. Himes, Resurgens Orthopaedics; Brandon Mines, Emory University
• Journal Title: Sports Health
• Volume: Volume 5, Number 4
• Publisher: SAGE Publications (UK and US): No SAGE Choice | 2013-07-01, Pages 337-339
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/1941738112472659
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Rehabilitation and Therapy; Health Sciences, General
• Keywords: athletic trainer; collections; efficiency; physician extender; productivity

Abstract

Background: Research has shown increases in efficiency and productivity by using physician extenders (PEs) in medicalpractices. Certified athletic trainers (ATCs) that work as PEs in primary care sports medicine and orthopaedic practicesimprove clinic efficiency.Hypothesis: When compared with a medical assistant (MA), the use of an ATC as a PE in a primary care sports medicinepractice will result in an increase in patient volume, charges, and collections.Study Design: Cross-sectional study.Methods: For 12 months, patient encounters, charges, and collections were obtained for the practices of 2 primary caresports medicine physicians. Each physician was assisted by an ATC for 6 months and by an MA for 6 months. Eighty fullclinic days were examined for each physician.Results: Statistically significant increases were found in all measured parameters for the ATC compared with the MA.Patient encounters increased 18% to 22% per day, and collections increased by 10% to 60% per day.Conclusion: ATCs can optimize orthopaedic sports medicine practice by increasing patient encounters, charges, andcollections.Clinical Relevance: Orthopaedic practices can be more efficient by using ATCs or MAs as PEs.