Athletic Training Outreach Program
Mississippi Sports Medicine’s continuing mission for the communities and schools throughout the state is to provide superior sports medicine care. Our athletic training outreach services are offered at no cost, contractual agreement, or obligation for athletes to come to the Clinic for their medical care.
It is the philosophy of the Clinic that if we provide quality service combined with highly skilled and trained physicians and athletic trainers; the parents, coaches and athletes will recognize this and seek out the care provided by Mississippi Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center.
Athletic Trainer Program
College Football
When Mississippi Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center (MSMOC) was formed in 1987, the physicians realized there was a large gap in the medical coverage of the high school athletes in Mississippi. The high schools had to rely on coaches to evaluate and treat injuries. Most coaches lacked the training and the time to adequately care for their athletes. Thus, the outreach program was born out of necessity in 1989.
It was at that time, Mississippi Sports Medicine hired their first athletic trainer to organize the Outreach Program. The purpose was to offer free visits to high schools and help evaluate and treat the athletes. The demand for this service soon became greater than one person and has since evolved into a team of 14 full-time athletic trainers visiting and treating athletes throughout the state. Our athletic trainers visit over 100 high schools each week and help supplement the medical care provided by the schools. Game and competition coverage is also provided to high schools for all sports. All of our physicians also cover high school football games each Friday during the fall.
Physicals for Student Athletes
Student Athlete Physicals
Another service provided thru the outreach program is free athletic physicals offered to all of the junior high and high school athletes in Mississippi. Since Mississippi Sports Medicine began offering these physicals in 1990, the clinic has administered over 100,000 free screenings to the athletes. These screenings have helped detect underlying medical conditions and may have prevented further serious injury and even death.
Our Sports Medicine Team
College Basketball
Our sports medicine team is composed of certified athletic trainers from Mississippi Sports Medicine, Baptist Health Systems, and Medicomp Rehab Network. The athletic trainers offer their services to high schools throughout the state including; south from McComb to Natchez, Magee/Mendenhall up to Carthage and Leake County, the entire Jackson area, and from Goodman over to the entire Delta. The objective of the participating physicians is to give back to the community and fill the void in the healthcare needs of our athletes. Currently Mississippi Sports Medicine physicians provide care to seven 4-year colleges and universities, four junior colleges, and over one hundred high schools.
Mississippi Sports Medicine also works closely with the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA), Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS), and the Mississippi Association of Coaches (MAC). MSMOC provides physician and athletic training services for all state championship events and all-star games for these organizations. Other high school services offered are the free monthly educational classes to high school student athletic trainer aides. These include injury recognition, anatomical dissections, preventative taping labs and CPR certification.
In addition to the secondary school coverage provided, MSMOC is also involved with many of the community and recreational associations in the state. The Clinic assigns athletic trainers to help with all sport tournaments and competitions.