The Athletic Trainer's Role in Cybersecurity
Abstract:
Athletic Trainers are well versed in topics such as injury prevention/risk mitigation, injury management/ clinical diagnosis, rehabilitation, and organizational and administration. Overall, Athletic Trainers are well suited to protect their patients from harm and well educated on many aspects of organization policy to address these areas. However, cyberspace-based threats have been an emerging concern in multiple fields and while Athletic Trainers are not cybersecurity professionals, they should know, understand, and promote the protection of their patients and their patients' information from cyberthreats. Unfortunately, this is not an aspect of the formal education Athletic Trainers receive and creates a potential threat that nefarious actors could leverage. Athletic Trainers are uniquely postured to advocate for the protection of their patient's information through process improvement via policy and practice modification.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify various cybersecurity threats.
- Describe best practices in cybersecurity that will improve patient information protection.
- Select appropriate organizational policies in cybersecurity to improve the protection of patient data.
Level:
Essential
Domain(s):
Domain 5: Health Care Administration and Professional Responsibility
CEUs:
1.0 Category A
Keywords: cybersecurity, patient information protection, patient data, cyberthreat
In order to earn your CEUs, you must watch the session video in its entirety and complete the assessment.
Jeremy Howard, EdD, LAT, ATC, RSCC, CSCS
Army National Guard
Dr. Jeremy Howard joined the Florida Army National Guard in 2002 and is a veteran of Afghanistan (2009-2010) and served in Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia during 2021. He currently serves as the State’s Holistic Health & Fitness (H2F) Program’s Integrator and Chief of Training. He earned his Bachelors of Science in Athletic Training from Florida Gulf Coast University, and both a Masters of Health Science in Athletic Training and Educational Doctorate from the University of Saint Augustine for Health Sciences.
While he has worked in more traditional settings such as Collegiate Sports Medicine and Clinical work for Chiropractor, he has run State-level programs in health and wellness for the FLARNG since 2018. His military skillset is quite different than his civilian healthcare career. He is a Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CW3) holding the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) of 140A Air & Missile Defense Systems Integrator and graduate of the highly competitive Joint Interface Control Officer (JICO) course, where he manages tactical data links (TDLs) and secure internet protocol operations to ensure exchange of tactical data across a theater of operations.
During his last deployment in Iraq and Syria, he managed the exchange of Air Picture and tactical data for Central and North Iraq, as well as Eastern Syria, directly resulting in successful engagements during an enemy drone attack. His diligence and efforts in that deployment earned him a Bronze Star and selection as the 2021 Fires Center of Excellence Sage Award and the 2021 Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance’s U.S. Missile Defender of the Year award.
Aside from the 40+ healthcare credentials he holds, he is also credentialed through CompTIA in A Plus, Network Plus, Security Plus, Information Technologies Operations Specialist, and Secure Infrastructure Specialist. Jeremy is currently serving as a volunteer leader on the NATA’s Armed Forces COPA Committee, NSCA’s Tactical Strength & Conditioning Special Interest Group, and the Florida State’s NSCA committee as the Tactical Representative. Jeremy has published two research papers and previously contributed to the NATA’s Blog and On-Demand Trainings.