Keeping high school student athletes safe while practicing and competing in sports is the primary goal of Houston Healthcare’s Athletic Training program, which is available to all high schools in Houston County. A staff of five full-time and several part-time Certified Athletic Trainers serve as health care liaisons between student athletes, their coaches, physicians, and parents, as part of Houston Healthcare’s Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine program.
“The Athletic Training program is an excellent example of how serious we are in our commitment to improving the health and wellness of people in our community,” says David Campbell, Administrator at Perry Hospital. “We are proud to have this partnership with the Houston County Board of Education and The Westfield School.”
Led by Mike Edgar, AT, C, LAT, Sports Medicine Coordinator, the athletic trainers work daily in the schools attending practices, weight training and conditioning sessions, as well as sporting events throughout the school year. Additionally, they provide health education to coaches, athletic directors, students and parents on a wide variety of topics, including sports safety and preventive and wellness measures, as well as treatment of minor injuries. In the event of an injury, the athletic trainers also serve as liaisons between the student athletes and local physicians.
According to Edgar, the primary concern of the athletic trainer is student safety, first and foremost. “Our job is to keep the student athletes safe,” he explains. “When a student is injured, we immediately contact the team physician, and we can make referrals to orthopedic specialists quickly without the normal wait time. Houston County is one of the few counties in the state where the local health care System provides certified athletic trainers to the high schools. The relationship our athletic trainers have with the local physicians ensures a rapid response time for treatment of a student’s sports-related injuries.”
Edgar adds the students are not the only ones benefiting from the expertise of the trainers. “With the athletic trainers in the schools, the coaches are free to coach because they don’t have to worry about making the injury assessments anymore. We also alleviate some stress from the students’ parents. They are more secure knowing that the trainers are there to keep their children safe during practice, as well as during the games,” he says.
All of Houston Healthcare’s athletic trainers are certified through the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) and are licensed athletic trainers in the state of Georgia. Together, the team has more than 60 years of training experience. Staff members cover football, basketball, baseball, softball, wrestling, soccer, track, and also assist as needed with cheerleading and cross country.
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