Mercy Health Renews Agreement with Fairfield City School District

Mercy Health – Cincinnati, which has a rich history of partnering with the communities it serves to help residents be well, announces that it renewed its agreement with Fairfield City School District to promote the health and wellness of the school’s student athletes.

“Our district has a strong vision that includes seeking community resources to fulfill student needs,” said Fairfield City School District Superintendent Billy Smith. “Mercy Health has been a great partner in helping us achieve that aim. Renewing our agreement ensures that our student athletes will continue to have great access to top quality orthopaedic and sports medicine care on and off the field.”

“Mercy Health has enjoyed a productive relationship with the students, staff and leadership of Fairfield City School District. The district has built strong bonds with both parents and the surrounding community and it is our honor to continue to serve as a trusted partner of the district and its student athletes,” said Thomas Urban, Mercy Health North Market President and CEO.

Mercy Health will provide two certified athletic trainers to serve as the primary athletic trainers for the district, one for the high school and one for the freshman school and middle schools. A Mercy Health Physician and sports medicine specialist will serve as the district’s team physician. The athletic trainers will work under the advice and counsel of the team physician.

The athletic trainers provide a comprehensive array of services to promote and ensure the safety of the district's student athletes, including the following injury prevention services:

• ImPACT concussion baseline testing
• Baseline lower extremity testing
• Annual pre-participation physicals
• Sportsmetrics ACL injury prevention program for female athletes

The athletic trainers also:  

• Manage and oversee the athletic training room
• Advise the school on the supplies and training equipment needed for the athletic training program
• Assist faculty and athletic coaching staff in the design and implementation of a student athletic training program and continuing education program and other related health and wellness programs as needed by the school, including providing speakers to address relevant topics for career days, etc.
• Provide strength, conditioning and flexibility training suggestions and programs to the coaching staff through the advice of a certified strength and conditioning specialist and with the consent of the team physician
• Monitor athletic injuries and develop injury prevention training and programs with the advice and consent of the team physician
• Coordinate and provide injury follow-up and evaluation with the physicians of Mercy Health
• Provide and arrange all coverage for a wide array of sports, including soccer, volleyball and basketball games, tournaments, events and practices, throughout the school year
• Providing priority appointments for injured athletes
• Providing Saturday walk-in clinics through the Fall sports season

In addition, the physician will provide direct orthopaedic care for athletic injuries and injury prevention training for the athletes. The partnership gives Fairfield City School District athletes preferred access to treatment, diagnostic equipment such as x-rays or CAT scans and physical therapy options.