The team of physicians, therapists, and trainers who make up Intermountain Sports Medicine – Southwest is pleased to announce a partnership with Dixie State College starting this fall. The move marks a huge step forward in terms of comprehensive care for all DSC student athletes.
As part of the partnership, Intermountain Healthcare will employ four full-time athletic trainers who will be present at all DSC athletic events, games, and practices. These trainers will provide basic injury care for athletes on the sidelines, treatments and rehab in the college training room, and they’ll have direct access to a network of sports medicine resources and specialists to ensure excellent, prompt treatment.
Physicians from Rim Rock Orthopedics & Sports Medicine and Zion Orthopedics & Sports Medicine will also be on-site or readily available for all sporting activities and will provide an injury screening clinic for all student athletes.
Dr. Christian Millward, a sports medicine physician and medical director for Intermountain Sports Medicine – Southwest, says that it is vital for injured athletes to have all the resources possible to help them recover quickly and avoid future injuries, which is what this partnership will to provide.
“The key element to a successful sports medicine program is having all of the necessary services coordinated and organized around a common purpose — the needs of the athlete,” Dr. Millward says. “Our team of healthcare providers is able to offer almost all the services an athlete may need, including athletic training, therapy and rehabilitation, spine and pain treatment, sports nutrition counseling, imagining, treatment for concussions and neurological conditions, and surgical services.”
Acting as gatekeepers to this long list of available services, the athletic trainers will be ready at all DSC practices and games to assess injuries, refer athletes to whatever services they may need to help them recover quickly, and will track their progress throughout the rehabilitation process.
“For example, when an athlete sustains an injury on the field or court, an athletic trainer will assess the injury immediately,” Dr. Millward explains. “If needed, the athletic trainer then has the support of, and expedited access to our list of specialty resources and providers. This allows us to quickly determine the level of injury, plan of care, and any changes in practice or game participation. That information then immediately goes back to the coaching staff so they have up to date status on all their injured players."
“The process for communication between the athletic trainer, the providers and then back to coaching staff is critical,” says Ted Hugunin, director of rehab services at Dixie Regional Medical Center. “One of our goals is to allow the coaches to be coaches. As we set up our processes around injury tracking, rehabilitation, and return to play, the coaching staff will be able to rely on trainer and physician recommendations to make sure athletes get back to competition quickly and safely.”
"Everyone we have worked with over the past few months at the college has been outstanding,” Hugunin says. “It is evident they are committed to their programs and student athletes. We are very excited to have this opportunity to work alongside Dixie State College to help maintain the health and safety of their athletes."
All of Intermountain Sports Medicine – Southwest’s services are available under one roof in the new Dixie Regional Health & Performance Center. In addition to their partnership with Dixie State College, the sports medicine team provides athletic trainers and other sport medicine services at five Washington County high schools to care for high school athletes, and they offer medical coverage at many local sporting events — including the Huntsman World Senior Games, the St. George Marathon, and the Ford Iron Man. The team of specialists also offers services for athletes of all ages and ability levels. To learn more, call 435.251.2250 or visit www.dixieregional.org/sportsmedicine.