Dear Virginia Board of Medicine, 

I am writing in support of the amendment to allow athletic trainers to use dry needling techniques during patient care. 

Certified athletic trainer's (ATC) in the state of Virginia are certified and licensed allied-healthcare professionals with a breadth of knowledge in patient care. Currently, as expressed in the State Practice Act that governs athletic training practice, athletic trainers may use appropriate modalities as part of patient care if they are appropriately trained and certified in these techniques as well as having express, written permission from the supervising physician to perform these techniques. Dry needling should be considered no differently.

Additionally, any concerns regarding an ATC's educational background to provide the requisite skills necessary to engage in dry needling techniques are patently unfounded. For example, regarding the concerns that ATCs cannot perform 'invasive' procedures, ATCs, as part of the modern education standards established by the Commission of Accreditation of Athletic Training Education, are required to be taught techniques related to emergency IV access, lidocaine injections, and wound closure with sutures or staples. These skills are further highlighted by the ever expanding professional setting of ATCs working along physicians both clinically and in the operating room where I have personally witnessed immense skill in conducting 'invasive' techniques. 

In short, Virginia has been and continues to be at the forefront of allowing ATCs to utilize all of the skills they have acquired as part of their education. Furthermore, ATCs are dedicated healthcare professionals that wish for nothing but to ensure patient health and well-being throughout their life. It is with this I reiterate my immense support for the amendment that will allow properly trained, certified, and licensed ATCs to provide dry-needling techniques as part of their practice. 

Thank you,

Cade Watts, MS, MPH, LAT, ATC