ELMIRA COLLEGE SPORTS MEDICINE INFORMATION, POLICY AND PROCEDURE MANUAL FOR ATHLETES

Transcription

1 ELMIRA COLLEGE SPORTS MEDICINE INFORMATION, POLICY AND PROCEDURE MANUAL FOR ATHLETES Medical Eligibility for Freshman and Transfer Students: All students who wish to participate in intercollegiate athletics at Elmira College must complete, PRIOR TO any official team activity, the following: 1. Must fully complete the Elmira College Health Form which was sent to you in your admissions packet and is a requirement of all Elmira College students. This is used as your athletic physical and must be reviewed and approved by the college s medical personnel before given approval to participate in intercollegiate athletics. This must be completed within 6 months of the first practice or physical screening. This form has three parts; medical history which you fill out, a physical examination given by your physician, and immunization record that the physician must complete. 2. All Sports Medicine forms for the Freshman and Transfer Students must be filled out completely. These will be reviewed at the physical screening. These forms are found at the Sports Medicine website at click on Inside Athletics, then scroll to Sports Medicine. The Insurance Section must be completed in full and a copy of the insurance card must be attached. This must be in our files before the student-athlete will be able to participate in their sport. NOTE: All athletes (domestic or international) must have insurance that meets the requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. International students insurance coverage must also abide by the United States Department of State guidelines for student visas. 3. Must complete a physical screening given by the Sports Medicine staff upon your arrival on campus. (This is not a physician s physical). Your coach will inform you of the time and place the screening will take place. The screening consists of a medical history review, evaluation of existing or past injuries, completion of sports medicine related paperwork, and pre-injury screenings. 4. If a student-athlete is under or have recently been under the care of a physician, the student-athlete must present to the Sports Medicine staff a detailed physicians report with their recommendations which will be reviewed by the College-Team Physicians and Sports Medicine staff in order to determine eligibility. 5. If the student athlete has been diagnosed with a heart murmur, NCAA mandates that these individuals have an electrocardiogram and/or echocardiogram done in order to insure that the heart murmur is benign. The student athlete will not be able to participate until this is completed and on file in the Sports Medicine office. (Elmira College is not monetarily responsible for these tests to be done.)

2 6. If the student athlete has ever had a heart monitoring test (such as an electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, cardiac stress test, etc.) we must have a copy of the test results and a dictated letter from the prescribing physician that identifies the diagnosis and their recommendation on athletic participation, in order for our College-Team Physician to determine the student-athlete s medical eligibility. 7. If a student athlete is being treated for ADHD, ADD or other learning disabilities, the NCAA mandates that certain documentation from your physician/clinician must be on file in the Sports Medicine office. This is necessary since most medications used to treat these conditions are banned by the NCAA. This material will be needed if the student athlete is tested for drugs by the NCAA and tests positive. (Refer to the ADHD / ADD requirements in this manual) 8. If a student-athlete becomes injured, ill or develops a condition that may be detrimental to their or their teammates health and well-being, while participating in athletics at Elmira College, they must refrain from practice or play when told to do so by the Sports Medicine staff. They may return to practice and games when they are cleared by the appropriate clinical practitioner which includes the College-Team Physicians, and-or their designated representative (Certified Athletic Trainer, College Nurses, College Practitioners, or referred specialists). Medical Eligibility for Returning Student Athletes: All students who wish to participate in intercollegiate athletics at Elmira College must complete, PRIOR TO any official team activity, the following: 1. Must successfully complete a screening given by the Sports Medicine staff. (This is not a physician s physical). Your coach will inform you of the time and place the screening will take place. The screening consists of a medical history review, evaluation of existing or past injuries, completion of sports medicine related paperwork, and pre-injury screenings. 2. If a returning student did not play a sport in the previous year, they must obtain a new physicians physical in order to be medically eligible to practice/compete. 3. All Sports Medicine forms for the Returning Student-Athletes must be filled out completely. These will be reviewed at the physical screening. These forms are found at the Sports Medicine website at click on Inside Athletics, then scroll to Sports Medicine. The Insurance Form must be completed in full and a copy of the insurance card must be attached. This must be in our files before the student-athlete will be able to participate in their sport. NOTE: All athletes (domestic or international) must have insurance that meets the requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. International students insurance coverage must also abide by the United States Department of State guidelines for student visas. 4. If a student-athlete is under or have recently been under the care of a physician, the student-athlete must present to the Sports Medicine staff a detailed physicians report with their recommendations which will be reviewed by the College-Team Physicians and Sports Medicine staff in order to determine eligibility.

3 5. If the student athlete has been diagnosed with a heart murmur, NCAA mandates that these individuals have an electrocardiogram and/or echocardiogram done in order to insure that the heart murmur is benign. The student athlete will not be able to participate until this is completed and on file in the Sports Medicine office. (Elmira College is not monetarily responsible for these tests to be done.) 6. If the student athlete has ever had a heart monitoring test (such as an electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, cardiac stress test, etc.) we must have a copy of the test results and a dictated letter from the prescribing physician that identifies the diagnosis and their recommendation on athletic participation, in order for our College-Team Physician to determine the student-athlete s medical eligibility. 7. If a student athlete is being treated for ADHD, ADD or other learning disabilities, the NCAA mandates that certain documentation from your physician/clinician must be on file in the Sports Medicine office. This is necessary since most medications used to treat these conditions are banned by the NCAA. This material will be needed if the student athlete is tested for drugs by the NCAA and tests positive. (Refer to the ADHD / ADD requirements in this manual. 8. If a student-athlete becomes injured, ill or develops a condition that may be detrimental to their or their teammates health and well-being, while participating in athletics at Elmira College, they must refrain from practice or play when told to do so by the Sports Medicine staff. They may return to practice and games when they are cleared by the appropriate clinical practitioner which includes the College-Team Physicians, and-or their designated representative (Certified Athletic Trainer, College Nurses, College Practitioners, or referred specialists). Insurance Information: All student athletes must be enrolled in an insurance plan that meets the requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and can be used in Elmira, NY. Elmira College maintains a secondary insurance policy for intercollegiate athletics. This policy is only accessible to athletes who have already exhausted the insurance benefit from their primary insurance. Elmira College will not be responsible for claims that result from care not directed by the Sports Medicine Staff or Team Physician(s). Important Information: 1. If your insurance is a HMO, PPO, or another insurance plan where Elmira is out of network, you should request from your insurance company out-of-network coverage for your student or purchase a health plan that the college will be offering the general student population. 2. International Students must have insurance that fulfills the requirements of their student visa as regulated by the United States Department of State and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Upon arrival to campus if the students insurance does not follow these guidelines they will automatically enrolled in the insurance policy chosen by the

4 college. (The emergency travel insurance that many Canadian students have purchased in the past will not fulfill these requirements). Claim Procedure: 1. The attending physician or medical facility where services were rendered should bill the student s primary insurance first. 2. The athlete must fill out a claim form in the Sports Medicine office or Elmira Colleges Business Office. 3. When the bills have been paid by the primary insurance company, send a copy of the original bill and the Explanation of Benefits (EOB), which is sent to you by your insurance company, to the Elmira College Business Office. (Without the EOB the colleges insurance company will not pay). 4. Our insurance company will also require an itemized bill by the medical care provider. The invoices or statements that are usually sent will not fulfill this requirement. The claimant will have to request this form from the medical provider. For more information about the athletic injury insurance plan refer to the Sports Medicine web page under Athletes Accident Insurance Information. Sports Medicine Notice of Privacy Practices Elmira College Sports Medicine complies with the federal and state HIPAA (Health Information Portability and Accountability Act) regulations. Each year all student-athletes must sign the Authorization for Use or Disclosure of Protected Health Information form which gives Sports Medicine permission to speak with the individuals listed about the student-athletes injury. Our policy on how this medical information about you is used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information is explained in the Notice of Privacy Practices which can be found on the Sports Medicine web page. Treatment of Injuries/Illnesses: Athletes who sustain injuries as a result of an intercollegiate practice, competition or conditioning need to seek treatment from the Elmira College Sports Medicine Staff. Injuries that result from non-sport related activities are not the responsibility of the Elmira College Sports Medicine Staff and should seek treatment at the Clarke Health Center. If an athlete sustains a non-sport related injury/illness, the athlete must still be cleared by the Team Physician(s) prior to returning to practice/competition. In the event of an emergency injury/illness seek medical assistance and inform the Sports Medicine Staff as soon as possible.

5 In-season athletes have priority for evaluation and treatment. Sport related injuries sustained during the off-season will be treated by the Sports Medicine Staff. The athlete should schedule times that don t conflict with in-season treatments/practices. Referrals to the Team Physician(s) are made solely by the Sports Medicine Staff. Referral to Outside Providers: All athlete health care should be coordinated through the Elmira College Sports Medicine Staff and/or Team Physician(s). This includes visits to an athlete s primary care physician at home and the Clarke Health Center. If an athlete needs to see a health care provider other than those provided through Elmira College Sports Medicine, the referral must come from the Sports Medicine Staff and/or Team Physician(s). If an athlete chooses to see an outside provider without the permission and/or prior knowledge of the Sports Medicine Staff and/or Team Physician(s), the athlete is not permitted to practice prior to clearance by the colleges Team Physician(s) If an athlete has been referred to an outside provider with the knowledge of the Sports Medicine Staff and/or Team Physician(s), the athlete still must be cleared by the Team Physician(s) prior to returning to practice/competition. In the event of an emergency injury/illness the athlete should seek medical assistance and inform the Sports Medicine Staff as soon as possible. The athlete must be cleared by the Team Physician(s) prior to returning to practice/competition. Any medical bills from an outside provider are only covered by the Athletic Insurance if the referral was generated by the Sports Medicine Staff and/or Team Physician(s) and is a direct result of participation in intercollegiate athletics. Banned Substances: The use of illegible substances is strictly prohibited for all Elmira College students and studentathletes. Refer to the Elmira College Student Handbook for the colleges Drug Policy. If an athlete is suspected of drug use the Department of Athletics reserve the right to drug test the athlete. Once the drug policy is implemented, athletes will be subject to drug testing at any time at their expense. Elmira College athletes are subject to NCAA drug testing at NCAA Championship events. Elmira College provides a drug education program to inform student-athletes about what drugs are banned by the NCAA, the effects drugs have on performance and daily living,

6 the drug testing procedure and protocols, and explain what documentation is necessary for appealing a positive drug test when tested positive for using a prescription drug. The use of anabolic steroids or any illegal or NCAA banned substance to enhance performance is strictly prohibited. Athletes are encouraged to refrain from the use of supplements, as they are not regulated by the FDA and they may contain banned substances which could result in a positive drug test. The use of tobacco products at practices/competition is strictly prohibited by the NCAA. Violators will be reported to the Director of Athletics and may be suspended from practices/competitions. Alcohol can have a negative effect on athlete s performance and is strongly recommended that athletes refrain from the regular use of alcohol during periods of training. Athletes taking long course of prescription drugs must provide Elmira College Sports Medicine with a copy of the prescription and diagnosis at the beginning of each academic year or once prescribed. The NCAA banned substance list can be viewed on the Sports Medicine website at click on Inside Athletics, then scroll to Sports Medicine. ADHD/ADD Medical Exemption Requirements: The NCAA bans classes of drugs because they can harm student-athletes and can create an unfair advantage in competition. Some legitimate medications contain NCAA banned substances and student-athletes may need to use these medicines to support their academics and their general health. The NCAA has a procedure to review and approve legitimate use of medications that contain NCAA banned substances through a Medical Exemptions Procedure. Many of the drugs used to treat ADHD-ADD are stimulants and are on this list. The NCAA Medical Exemption policy requires that specific documentation about the condition and its diagnosis and treatment be submitted by the student-athletes NCAA institution to the medical panel of the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sport (CSMAS), which reviews requests for a medical exception to a positive drug test for these stimulant medications. This information is necessary to appropriately apply the exceptions policy, so that student-athletes are adequately monitored while using a stimulant medication that can negatively impact health and safety, and so that stimulants are not being used strictly for athletic performance enhancement. In order for a student-athlete to be granted a medical exception for the use of a medication that contains a banned substance, the student athlete must:

7 Have declared the use of the substance to his or her athletics administrator (Sports Medicine Staff) responsible for keeping medical records. Present documentation of diagnosis of the condition. (See the NCAA Medical Exemption Documentation Reporting Form) Provide documentation from the prescribing physician explaining the course of treatment and the current prescription. Provide a yearly follow-up report from the prescribing physician indicating treatment visits and current prescription. Your physician should send to Elmira College Sports Medicine the NCAA Medical Exception Documentation Reporting Form and supporting documentation. The bottom section of this form explains all the information needed in the physicians letter or medical notes. It also explains all the supporting information needed the first year of reporting. SICKLE CELL ANEMIA TRAIT STATUS: The NCAA has recommended that all colleges and universities require from all their studentathletes that they show proof of being tested for the sickle cell anemia trait. The sickle cell trait is an inherited blood disorder, which can cause serious health risks and even death during exercise. Having the disorder will not disqualify the athlete from participation, but will make the studentathlete aware that precautions are necessary with high exertion exercise. In the United States, sickle cell anemia trait is tested at birth of all newborns and can usually be found in the newborns birth records. If test record cannot be found and verified then a new sickle cell anemia trait testing must be done or a waiver can be signed. A testing verification/waiver form and sickle cell anemia trait information sheet can be found on the Sports Medicine website at ATHLETIC TRAINING ROOM RULES, EXPECTATION AND BEHAVIOR: 1. The Clarke Health Center Athletic Training Room will be open for treatment and evaluations Monday-Friday from 8:45-1:45 when classes are in session. During breaks and weekends the athletic training room will be open based on the practice schedules and the treatment needs of the athletes. 2. When an injury occurs, the athlete must immediately report the injury to the athletic trainer present at the practice or game. If the injury is not reported at the time it occurred, then the athlete must report the injury to an athletic trainer the next morning before 11:00 AM in the Clarke Health Center Athletic Training Room. 3. The athletic training rooms are co-ed and therefore all athletes should be appropriately attired while in the athletic training room. A t-shirt and gym shorts is recommended for all athletes, regardless of body part being treated. 4. Athletic equipment, backpacks, coats and other personal items should be left outside the athletic training room.

8 No swearing or inappropriate topics of conversation or inappropriate gestures are permitted. 6. Athletic training room supplies (crutches, braces, elastic bandages, TENS units, etc.) should be returned as soon as your use for them are over, so they are available to other athletes. 7. Athletes seeking post practice treatments other than ice must shower prior to entering the athletic training room.