Union Hospital expands it's Sports Medicine Department

Just a short time ago, Union Hospital expanded it's Sports Medicine Department to include service at all three of the Vigo County high schools, along with several other Wabash Valley high schools and universities. In today's Healthy Living, we'll take a look at the program and the high level of medical care that the student athletes receive.

Yevette Cress from Union Hospital explains. “Our schools have a fulltime athletic trainer that are devoted to that high school. That is their fulltime job. We also provide physician coverage at home football games. We provide pre-participation physicals every year. Those funds are donated back to the school. They also get a few other perks along the way.

“And that includes the middle schools. Even though we don't have a fulltime trainer at those schools, those middle schools are getting some attention as well. We also, as part of our program, they have immediate access to our physicians. SO, if there is an injury, even at practice, those athletic trainers have access to the physicians and they can get that immediate care that they need. Everyone who's been to a football game sees that there are injuries almost every game. If there's something significant, those physicians are right there on the sideline and can take action immediately with those athletic trainers and through the EMS system, if needed. We're just prepared for ant type of injury that would occur.

“Our athletic trainers, in the state of Indiana, they have to be certified as well as licensed. They have either a Bachelor's, or even a Master's degree. So they are well educated. It's not a 3-day workshop! They know not only how to tape ankles, but also how to treat and access everything from emergency care to that rehab they are doing to get back into the game. So, they are professionals and they are very well educated on what they are doing.”