Children's Mercy partners with Brookside Soccer Club and the Kansas City Missouri Public Schools to keep young athletes in the game
The Center for Sports Medicine at Children's Mercy is providing athletic training services to Brookside Soccer Club and the Kansas City Missouri Public School district's athletic program in order to decrease sports injuries in student athletes.
"We believe athletic trainers are a vital part of an organization's sports safety and health program. With the increasing number of student athletes, proper on-site care has never been more important. When a player goes down on the field, the athletic trainer is the first responder with medical training to prevent or treat an injury," says Kevin Latz, MD, Chief, Section of Sports Medicine at Children's Mercy. "By providing immediate support on the field, we can reduce the onset of short- and long-term consequences from injuries including concussion and heat illness among many other conditions."
Children's Mercy athletic trainers provide practice coverage and sideline support to include first aid, assessment and treatment of athletic injuries and make recommendations for the care and reconditioning of injured athletes.
"The Center for Sports Medicine at Children's Mercy is excited for this opportunity to provide athletic trainers to the Brookside Soccer Club and the Kansas City Missouri Public schools," Nicole Fillingame, Sports Medicine Program Manager, says of the partnership. "Not every youth athletic program is fortunate enough to have an athletic trainer, so we are happy to provide these services for the student athletes."
Children's Mercy athletic trainers are staffed during practices, clinics and camps during Brookside Soccer Club's fall and spring Recreational League seasons and its competitive program at the new Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, Mo. The partnership gives BSC access to an athletic trainer which is something they have not previously had on-site for its athletes.
"This partnership reinforces our dedication to the well-being of athletes within our organization," says Nick Garcia, BSC's executive director. "With access to on-site athletic trainers, coaches and players have peace of mind that any mishap, no matter how minor, will be given immediate medical attention." Not only will the student athletes benefit from the partnership, but the coaches and parents have a direct link to pertinent information from concussions and sprains to first aid management.
"The quality of staff employed by the Center for Sports Medicine at Children's Mercy," added Garcia, "is unparalleled and helps ratchet up our commitment to developing athletes."
Children's Mercy is also providing three athletic trainers to be on the sidelines during Kansas City Public School high school athletic events. The partnership gives each Kansas City high school, and every athlete, expert care that's immediately available. Athletic trainers will provide first-aid procedures and initial assessment and treatment of a sports injury. Children's Mercy athletic trainers are providing sideline support for track, football, soccer, volleyball, basketball and wrestling.
In 2013, Children's Mercy opened a state-of-the-art, 3,500 square foot sports medicine gym which includes a track lane, small basketball court and exercise equipment for Sports Physical Therapy at Children's Mercy Blue Valley in Overland Park, Ks.
Children's Mercy Blue Valley also offers Sports Medicine Clinics and Sports Physical Therapy for student athletes with acute or chronic sports-related injuries, dislocations, concussions and fractures. Sports Medicine appointments are offered five days a week by appointment only. Sports Medicine Clinics are also offered at Children's Mercy South, Children's Mercy Northland, Children's Mercy East and Children's Mercy Hospital Adele Hall Campus.