Daily Dose – Meet the Team: The Experts Behind Your Student-Athlete’s Health and Safety

Atrium Health is proud to serve as The Health Care Provider of more than 100 schools, offering expert Team Doctors and Athletic Trainers for your school in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Union, Cabarrus, and Lincoln counties and Fort Mill School District. Our mission is to keep your student-athlete and our community healthy, safe and injury-free.

Each month, we will be spotlighting some of our dedicated Team Doctors and Athletic Trainers and share tips and exciting news in the world of sports medicine and high school athletics.

Whether it’s on the track, field or court, student-athletes bring enthusiasm and dedication to every practice and game. Behind the scenes, a team of healthcare professionals works diligently to keep these young athletes safe, healthy, and performing at their best. Atrium Health provides these healthcare professionals, partnering with high schools across the region.

We recently spoke with an Atrium Health team physician and an athletic trainer for an area high school. They shared insights into Atrium Health’s commitment to student-athlete wellness and its critical role in promoting safety across partner high schools.

What Does a Team Physician and an Athletic Trainer Do?

Team Physician: As the team doctors, our primary role is to ensure the health and safety of our student athletes. This involves preventing injuries through collaboration with coaches, diagnosing and treating any injuries that do occur, and making sure each athlete is medically cleared to participate in sports. When an athlete requires additional care, our athletic trainer can quickly connect the patient with us for next steps in treatment. When necessary, we can also provide a fast-track to comprehensive orthopedic and sports medicine care for our athletes.

Athletic Trainer: Our athletic trainers are on-site at the school daily, and on the sidelines during practices and games, providing immediate care, overseeing training room hours, and working with coaches to prevent injuries. Being at the school daily allows us to build strong relationships with athletes and monitor their progress closely. We focus on injury prevention and are first responders when injuries do occur. Our goal is to help our athletes recover quickly and safely.

Why Is This Program So Critical to Student Athlete Health and Safety?

Team Physician: Over time, athletes have become bigger, faster, and stronger, and with that comes the potential for more significant injuries. It’s essential to have dedicated healthcare professionals onsite to help these students compete safely. Having a well-trained athletic trainer with proper protocols in place has been shown to make the biggest impact on preventing the risks of athletic activities from becoming a tragedy. Atrium Health’s program provides these services at no cost to the parents and athletes, showing a real commitment to the health and well-being of young athletes in our community.

Athletic Trainer: The program is instrumental in helping students access a wide range of medical resources quickly. With Atrium Health’s network, we can match injured athletes with the appropriate physician right away, getting 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 the official health care provider for many pro, collegiate and youth sport teams throughout the region, so the resources and experience we have are significant.

We’re also a leading academic medical center with Wake Forest University School of Medicine as our academic core. We are opening a School of Medicine in the Charlotte area, which will further address the needs of the community and allow us to have cutting-edge technology, and tremendous resources, to be able to benefit the community. 

And I can’t stress enough that this partnership with the schools is a service that is free to the community, and it’s backed by Levine Children’s. Levine Children’s is recognized as the region’s best children’s hospital and the best in pediatric orthopedics in North Carolina, according to U.S. News & World Report. We have such a quality-driven approach that we can offer that no one else in the area can, and our community benefits because of that.

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

Why Is It Important to Have Both a Team Physician and an Athletic Trainer?

Team Physician: We work as a team, as progression of care is necessary for the athletes. The athletic trainer’s role is invaluable because they know the athletes well, including their physical and mental health needs. This insight is essential for diagnosing and managing injuries on-site. Having a team physician on call provides additional expertise, especially for more complex injuries.

Athletic Trainer: Athletic trainers and team physicians bring different but complementary skills, and both are essential. I handle the day-to-day care and can catch things that might have gone unnoticed before it becomes a larger issue, but if a situation is beyond my scope, I can reach out to the team physician to ensure the best treatment is available for the student-athlete.

How Do You Work Together to Prevent Injuries?

Team Physician: Injury prevention largely falls under the athletic trainer’s daily responsibilities, as they’re on-site and work closely with the athletes. Together, we monitor injury patterns and make adjustments as needed. For example, if there’s a rise in a particular injury type, the athletic trainer can work with coaches to adjust warm-ups or training programs to reduce those risks.

Athletic Trainer: I work closely with coaches to implement proper lifting programs, along with warm-up and cooldown routines. By adapting training based on trends in injuries, we can help athletes stay healthy and on the field longer.

What About Treating Injuries?

Team Physician: The athletic trainer manages many injuries directly, providing initial care and rehabilitation. For more complex cases, I step in to provide additional evaluation and treatment from head to toe, ranging from broken bones to sudden decreased performance, and support the athlete’s recovery.

Athletic Trainer: My presence on-site allows me to provide daily support for athletes, including taping, bracing, wound care, rehabilitation exercises, sports participation modifications, and emergency response. Our athletic trainers also receive training and education for evaluating and managing concussions which may occur during practices or games.

When Should Athletes Avoid Playing Through Pain?

Team Physician: Persistent pain, especially in the joints or bones, should be taken seriously and never be ignored. I advise athletes to consult their athletic trainer if pain continues, especially if it involves joints, bones, or the chest. Studies show that playing through a concussion can significantly delay recovery, so we prioritize diagnosing these symptoms quickly.

Athletic Trainer: I tell athletes to come to me with any persistent pain or discomfort, as addressing symptoms early helps prevent further injury. If additional care is needed, I can facilitate a quick referral to the team physician.

When Are Other Experts Brought In?

Team Physician: Atrium Health’s size allows us to bring in specialists when needed, so your child can receive comprehensive care. Our sports cardiology program, for example, offers screenings like EKGs, and if there’s a concern, a specialist will review it. Our annual Heart of a Champion Day event provides free screenings, including EKGs and sport physicals for athletes in our region, all at no cost.

Final Thoughts?

Team Physician: The partnership between Atrium Health and our schools is crucial. Our partner schools place a great deal of trust in Atrium Health’s expertise in making medical decisions for their athletes, creating an environment where trainers and team physicians can provide the best possible care.

To learn more about why Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute is the region’s leader in orthopedics and sports medicine care, click here. To schedule an appointment with an Orthopedic or Sports Medicine specialist, 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