The Access Paradox

The Access Paradox - Unionization of Athletic Training

When Advocacy for the Provider Conflicts with Access for the Patient

Athletic training was built on one promise: Access to care for all physically active individuals as emphasized by the NATA and BOC as the profession’s mission and social responsibility.

That means showing up where healthcare rarely does: on fields, in schools, in the community.

But unionization shifts the focus inward, toward protecting the provider. While that’s valid and necessary in some professions, it introduces a paradox for athletic training.

Unions often set workload limits, restrict duties, or define “off-limits” work environments. Those same boundaries can unintentionally limit patient access, especially in rural or underserved settings where one athletic trainer is the entire healthcare system.

When advocacy for the professional starts to restrict advocacy for the patient, we lose part of what makes athletic training unique.

Can a profession built on access justify structures that might reduce it?