Join the Team: The Experts Behind Your Student-Athlete’s Health and Safety

Atrium Health is proud to serve as a Health Care Provider for over 100 schools, providing professional Team Physicians and Athletic Trainers for your school in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Union, Cabarrus, and Lincoln County and District. of Fort Mill School. Our mission is to keep your student-athlete and our community healthy, safe and harm-free.

Each month, we’ll be highlighting some of our dedicated Team Physicians and Athletic Trainers and sharing tips and great news in the world of sports medicine and high school athletics.

Whether it’s on the field, court or field, student-athletes bring passion and dedication to every practice and game. Behind the scenes, a team of health professionals is working hard to keep these young athletes safe, healthy, and performing at their best. Atrium Health provides these health professionals, partnering with high schools throughout the region.

We recently spoke with Atrium Health’s team physician and athletic trainer for a local high school. They shared details about Atrium Health’s commitment to the health of student athletes and its important role in promoting safety at partner high schools.

What Do Team Doctors and Athletic Trainers Do?

Team Physician: As team physicians, our primary role is to ensure the health and safety of our student-athletes. This includes preventing injuries by working with coaches, diagnosing and treating any injuries that occur, and ensuring that every athlete is medically cleared to participate in sports. When an athlete needs additional care, our athletic trainer can quickly connect the patient to us for the next steps in treatment. If necessary, we can also provide fast access to comprehensive orthopedic and sports medicine care for our athletes.

Athletic Trainer: Our athletic trainers are present at the school every day, and are on the sidelines during practices and games, providing immediate care, overseeing training room hours, and working and coaches to prevent injuries. Being at the school every day gives us the opportunity to build strong relationships with the athletes and monitor their progress closely. We focus on preventing accidents and are the first responders when accidents happen. Our goal is to help our athletes recover quickly and safely.

Why Is This Program So Important to the Health and Safety of Student-Athletes?

Team Doctor: As time goes on, athletes get bigger, faster, stronger, and with that comes the potential for serious injuries. It is important to have dedicated health care professionals in the area to help these students compete safely. Having a well-trained sports coach with proper protocols has been shown to have the greatest impact on preventing sports injuries from becoming catastrophic. The Atrium Health program provides these services free of charge to parents and athletes, demonstrating a true commitment to the health and well-being of young athletes in our community.

Athletic Trainer: The program is very helpful in helping students get more medical supplies quickly. With the Atrium Health network, we can match injured athletes with the right doctor immediately, giving them the best treatment and speeding up recovery.

What Makes Atrium Health’s Sports Medicine Program Different?

Team Physician: The Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute Outreach Athletic Trainer program is among the largest in the country. We are also health workers for many professional teams, students and youth sports in this area, so the resources and experience we have are important.

We are also a leading medical center with Wake Forest University School of Medicine as our academic center. We are opening a School of Medicine in the Charlotte area, which will continue to address the needs of the community and allow us to have the latest technology, and the most resources, to be able to benefit the community.

And I cannot emphasize enough that this partnership with the schools is a free service to the community, and is supported by Levine Children’s. Levine Children’s is recognized as the best children’s hospital in the region and the best pediatric orthopedic hospital in North Carolina, according to US News & World Report. We have a value-driven approach to delivering that no one else in the area can, and our community benefits as a result.

Athletic Trainer: The size and scope of Atrium Health provides a unique benefit to our athletes. With so many doctors and specialties online, we can treat many conditions and injuries in one place. Services like our Urgent Care Medicine, Saturday morning injury clinics, and same-day appointments also allow athletes to see orthopedic or sports medicine specialists quickly, reducing the time to wait for treatment.

Why Is It Important to Have a Team Doctor and Athletic Trainer?

Team Doctor: We work as a team, as continuity of care is necessary for athletes. The role of a sports coach is very important because they know the athletes well, including their physical and mental health needs. This understanding is important for assessing and managing risks on the web. Having a team doctor on call provides additional knowledge, especially for complex injuries.

Athletic Trainer: Athletic trainers and team doctors bring different but complementary skills, and both are important. I deal with day-to-day care and can catch things that may have gone unnoticed before it becomes a bigger issue, but if the situation is beyond my scope, I can reach out to the team doctor to make sure the treatment is the best there is for the student athlete.

How Do You Work Together to Prevent Accidents?

Team Physician: Injury prevention often falls under the daily responsibility of the athletic trainer, as they are on site and work closely with the athletes. Together, we monitor risk trends and make changes where necessary. For example, if there is an increase in a certain type of injury, the sports coach can work with the coaches to adjust the warm-up or training methods to reduce those injuries.

Athletic Trainer: I work closely with the coaches to implement proper lifting programs, as well as warm-up and cool-down techniques. By adapting training to injury patterns, we can help athletes stay healthy and on the field longer.

What about Wound Healing?

Team Doctor: A sports coach manages many injuries directly, providing first aid and rehabilitation. For more complex cases, I step in to provide additional diagnosis and treatment from head to toe, from broken bones to suddenly reduced performance, and to support the athlete’s recovery.

Athletic Trainer: My on-site presence allows me to provide day-to-day support for athletes, including taping, bracing, wound care, rehabilitation exercises, sports participation modifications , and emergency response. Our athletic trainers also receive training and education to assess and manage potential concussions during practice or sports.

When Should Athletes Avoid Playing With Pain?

Team Doctor: Constant pain, especially in the joints or bones, should be taken seriously and never ignored. I advise athletes to consult their athletic trainer if the pain persists, especially if it affects the joints, bones or chest. Studies show that playing with a concussion can delay recovery, so we prioritize early diagnosis of these symptoms.

Athletic Trainer: I tell athletes to come to me with any persistent or uncomfortable pain, as treating the symptoms early helps prevent further injury. If further care is required, I can facilitate an urgent referral to a team doctor.

When Are Other Experts Brought In?

Team Doctor: The size of Atrium Health allows us to bring in specialists when needed, so your child can receive comprehensive care. Our sports cardiology program, for example, offers tests such as EKGs, and if there is a problem, a specialist will diagnose it. Our annual Heart of a Champion Day event offers free screenings, including EKGs and sports exercises for athletes in our area, all at no charge.

Final Thoughts?

Team Doctor: The partnership between Atrium Health and our schools is important. Our partner schools rely heavily on Atrium Health’s expertise in making medical decisions for their athletes, creating an environment where trainers and team doctors can provide the best care.

To learn more about why Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute is a regional leader in orthopedic care and sports medicine, click here. To schedule an appointment with a Pharmacist or Pharmacist, call 704-863-HURT (4878) or schedule online.

Medical Directors:

– Charlotte-Mecklenburg – Dr. David Price

– Union & Fort Mill – Dr. Eric Warren

– Cabarrus – Dr. Kevin Burroughs

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