Not Just for Athletes
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Daviess Community Hospital
Last fall, athletic trainers from Daviess Community Hospital began working
with student athletes not only from Washington Schools but Barr-Reeve
and North Daviess as well. From attending practices, where 62 percent
of all sports injuries actually take place, to being on the sidelines
during contests, the three trainers working with youth in the community
stayed busy.
Scott Sell, director of athletic training and outreach services at DCH,
said only 37 percent of high schools in the United States offer full-time
athletic trainers.
“Schools without an athletic trainer have shown incident of injury
two times greater than those schools with an athletic trainer,”
said Sell, who said March has been recognized by Mayor Joe Wellman as
National Athletic Training Month. “There are high schools in Daviess
County and surrounding counties that that unfortunately do not have an
athletic trainer onsite to provide provide medical care to those student
athletes and the school community.”
Sell said while DCH will continue to work with those schools to have an
athletic trainer present, he’s proud of the success of the program.
“It’s exciting to see our athletic training presence continue
to expand throughout Daviess and surrounding counties,” he said.
Wellman said the city was glad to support the hospital in its endeavors.
“We’re happy to be able to support the hospital in the growing
field of athletic training,” said Wellman.
The benefits
Dr. Jess Brower, a chiropractic physician with DCH, said having certified
athletic trainers available for youth sports programs and high school
athletics is now a necessity for from both a safety and success standpoint.
“Youth sports provide many benefits for participants but it’s
not without risk of injury,” Brower said. “Unfortunately,
injury rates are increasing secondary to overuse due to year-round play
or intensive programs.”
Brower said children and teens are more susceptible to these types of
injuries, but with oversight and assistance from athletic trainers, coaches,
and administrators, parents can be more confident in knowing their athletes
are performing in safer programming utilizing appropriate preventative
strategies.
“Having fewer injuries obviously translates into a better likelihood
of team or individual success,” he said, adding he has seen the
benefits of working with a certified athletic trainer since working with
Brandy Ramaj Jewett, certified athletic trainer for North Daviess Schools,
for the last year or so. Jewett also works as a clinical assistant in
Brower’s office.
But when injuries do occur, having those athletic trainers on hand can
help with appropriate assessment, management and return to play protocols.
“With every injury I evaluate, I always ask the question of whether
or not the condition warrants evaluation and care by a physician,”
said Jewett, adding being an athletic trainer is a unique position in
that she is a tool the students can utilize and so far, she’s stayed
busy. “I think this is what makes an athletic trainer most beneficial
for high school athletics. I am able to develop my own diagnosis of an
athlete’s condition and then discuss the different options with
the athletes and his or her parents, whether it be continuing rehab with
me or setting up an appointment with Dr. Brower, Dr. Marcus Thorne or
another healthcare professional.”
Jewett, a former high school athlete, said she tries to explain the injury
and the therapy process to the athlete to make sure they have an active
role in the care that is provided and an understanding of why it’s
important to not rush back to participating before they are ready.
“I want my athletes to know they are the most important part of
healing,” she said. “I want them to be empowered to better
themselves versus going through the motions and of rehab just because
I told them to.”
Having the new CORE Center, Jewett said, has also been beneficial to the
athletes she works with.
“I communicate with both offices daily and should an athlete sustain
an injury after office hours, I am still able to consult with either office
should I deem it necessary,” she said, adding the athletes are also
able to see Drs. Brower and Thorne quickly if need be.
But it’s not only Jewett’s student athletes who yield the
benefits. Brower said his patients benefit from working with Jewett as well.
“From a clinical standpoint, Brandy is an idea candidate to help
with therapy, rehabilitation and other clinical duties which allow me
to be more efficient and I believe provide better patient care overall,”
said Brower adding he wouldn’t want to go back to working without
Jewett and he believes the same would be true for any certified athletic
trainer in a chiropractic, therapy or orthopedic facility.
Jill Wier, office coordinator for the CORE Center said having Jewett in
the physician practice not only improves productivity but also patient
outcomes and satisfaction.
“Brandy continues to help move Dr. Brower’s patients more
effectively through their appointments,” said Weir, adding Jewett
is also accessible to Thorne and and Nurse Practitioner Allie Krieger.
“While she provides rehabilitation instruction and patient education,
with athletes, she is also available for others.”
Weir said as far as having athletic trainers in the schools goes, it can
be a cost saving measure sometimes too.
“A cost savings may arise from the avoidance of an unnecessary physician
visit or emergency department visit,” said Weir, who said she she
sees the dedication in Jewett.
“I personally see that dedication when she talks about her ‘her
team’ and ‘her athletes’ with a smile. I’m certain
she is having a positive impact on their lives.”
Barr-Reeve Athletic Director Aaron Ash said DCH has been a great partner
for the school and has provided athletes with scheduled services twice a week.
“I’ve received positive feedback from coaches, parents and
athletes on the availability and dedication our athletic trainer, Dave
Graber, has shown,” said Ash.
Helping the Viking athletes is something Graber said he enjoys as well.
“In 20 years of covering Barr-Reeve athletics, the enjoyment I have
received from helping others has never faded,” said Graber, who
is also director of rehab therapies for DCH.
“Athletic training is the perfect platform to improve the health
of our student athletes through prevention, education and treatment for
the return to full function.”
Washington Community Schools Athletic Trainer Misty Petro said she too,
enjoys working with the students.
“Working at WHS is a pleasure,” she said. “I enjoy working
with all the athletes, coaches and parents in the school system.”
Athletic training as also allowed Brandon Johnson, DCH’s lead occupational
therapist to blend his interests.
“It’s allowed me to integrate my interest in the medical field
and health sciences with my love for sports and passion to help people
in their recovery,” he said, adding he’s had the opportunity
to work with athletes in nearly every level of sport as well as the general public.
“Athletic trainers are an integral part of the allied health profession.
By allied, I mean a skilled healthcare provider working right alongside
physicians, physical and occupational therapists and other healthcare
providers to provide preventative, emergency and rehabilitative care for
all populations not only athletes.”
Not all athletes wear jerseys
But Sell is quick to point out that athletic training services aren’t
just for athletes.
“We see cases where those in the workforce have the same types of
injuries as athletes,” said Sell, adding the athletic training program
can benefit many. “Some of the same motions used in sports are the
same as those we use for other tasks.”
Last year, DCH was designated as one of five pilot sites that allows for
athletic trainers to receive reimbursement from third party payers for
services that those payers must typically reimburse, something Sell is
quite proud of.
“Athletic trainers are able to treat the patient from the initial
evaluation through discharge and reimburse for those services alongside
their physical and occupational therapy colleagues,” he said.
Sell said the program continues to expand its focus to better benefit
the community.
“As a department, we continue to find new and unique ways to utilize
the skill set of our athletic trainers,” said Sell, adding the department
began offering a free walk-in clinic for Daviess County Family YMCA members
who need assessment, treatment and preventative strategies last year.
That clinic, Sell said, is offered the first and third Tuesday of each
month from 4:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. and on the second and fourth Thursday
of each month from 8:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m.
“We’ve had a great response to the clinic so far,” said
Sell, adding the clinics have been full recently and it’s best to
set up an appointment.
DCH athletic trainers have also been conducting ergonomic assessments
for businesses as well.
“‘Your protection is our priority’ is the theme for
National Athletic Training Month and I think that’s very true,”
said Sell, who said business and organizations interested in the ergonomic
assessments can contact the CORE Center. “You, the public and your
healthcare, is a priority.”
Fore more information on the services provided by DCH athletic trainers,
contact Sell at 812-254-2663 ext. 2016
*Article written by Lindsey Owens and provided by the Washington Times
Herald. Visit their website at www.washtimesherald.com for more articles!