AdventHealth Kicks Off the 2020-2021 Season by Responding to the Urgent Need for High School Athletic Trainers in Hillsborough County

August 10, 2020 — AdventHealth has signed a one-year contract with the Hillsborough County School District to provide Certified Athletic Trainers at all 28 high schools in the district for the 2020-2021 school year. According to the American Medical Association, schools that have athletic trainers have lower injury rates and a larger overall focus on health and safety of student athletes. The newly hired athletic trainers for the school district will be at all home and away varsity football games, as well as all home games for volleyball, cheerleading, basketball, wrestling, soccer, lacrosse, softball, flag football and baseball, and they will attend varsity regional and state championship contests. In addition to providing emergency and non-emergency care on site, athletic trainers will also conduct concussion testing to all athletes in the district.

“We are driven by a strong desire to be a health care partner in the local communities that we serve and reach out beyond the walls of our hospitals and physician offices to help people live healthier lives, which includes student athletes,” said Mike Schultz, President and CEO, AdventHealth West Florida Division. “We are nationally recognized for our commitment to patient safety and it remains a top priority for us. Now, we can extend that focus from our health care system to high school sports and truly make an impact on the health and wellbeing of young people in our community.”

As part of the agreement, the school district will contribute approximately $420,000 for the estimated $1.15 million program and AdventHealth, along with PT Solutions, will fund the remaining cost of the salaries and equipment needed. The PT Solutions Sports Medicine model protects student athletes and the county from any injury or liability by utilizing onsite athletic trainers to identify any risks for student athletes and partners.

“Hillsborough County Public Schools is dedicated to cultivating a safe and healthy environment for our student-athletes. Our commitment to providing certified athletic trainers for each high school has not wavered, and we are excited and thankful that AdventHealth and PT Solutions are willing to help our student athletes beginning in the fall. Our district looks forward to a strong partnership with AdventHealth,” said Superintendent Addison Davis.

PT Solutions, who currently partners with AdventHealth to provide physical therapy services to patients, will hire the team of athletic trainers. Each athletic trainer is board certified and state licensed to deliver care such as CPR, small injury wraps and stabilization, and wound care. On a day-to-day basis, the athletic trainers manage acute injuries and collaborate with the school’s sports medicine team, comprised of administration, coaches, physicians and physical therapists, to provide the most appropriate plan of care that allows the athlete to remain in their sport, in the safest way possible.

“As part of the Tampa sports medicine community for the last five years, we’re honored to provide an even greater network of sideline coverage and outpatient care to Hillsborough County. Our athletic trainers and physical therapists take a collaborative approach, alongside our partner AdventHealth and partner physicians, to prevent, manage, and care for a variety of sports-related injuries,” said PT Solutions’ CEO and Founder, Dale Yake, PT, DPT, ATC, OCS. “Our experience combined with ongoing research and training provides the best professional protocols for prevention of injury and high-level treatment when an injury does occur. This compliments the athletes’ desire to pursue their dreams and do it safely.”

The athletic trainers will begin providing services to the school district on August 10 as players begin to report for conditioning ahead of the official start of the fall sports season. They will also be a resource for faculty and staff within the district.

About AdventHealth West Florida Division

The West Florida Division of AdventHealth has some of the nation’s brightest medical minds making lifesaving breakthroughs with surgical pioneers, scientists and researchers using leading edge technology and innovation to deliver our brand of whole-person care. Our network of care includes AdventHealth Carrollwood, AdventHealth Connerton, AdventHealth Dade City, AdventHealth Lake Placid, AdventHealth North Pinellas, AdventHealth Ocala, AdventHealth Sebring, AdventHealth Tampa, AdventHealth Wauchula, AdventHealth Wesley Chapel and AdventHealth Zephyrhills, as well as five freestanding offsite Emergency Rooms including AdventHealth Brandon ER, AdventHealth Central Pasco ER, AdventHealth Palm Harbor ER, AdventHealth TimberRidge ER, and AdventHealth Westchase ER. We are more than hospitals, as we have a robust system of care including specialty acute care, over 200 primary care and specialty employed physicians, Express Care at Walgreens clinics, urgent care centers, wound care, physical therapy, home care, mobile mammography and more. AdventHealth is a faith-based not-for-profit health care system with a mission of Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ. AdventHealth has hundreds of care sites and nearly 50 hospitals across the United States. For more information about AdventHealth, visit AdventHealth.com, or Facebook.com/AdventHealth, and for West Florida Division, click here.

About Hillsborough County Public Schools

Hillsborough County Public Schools is America’s seventh-largest school district and the largest in central Florida. The district has more than 230 public schools, more than 24,000 dedicated employees and more than 225,000 students. Our teachers and leaders have helped our students boost their graduation rate to 86.2 percent, a district record, in the 2018-19 academic year. Our high schools were highlighted in the recent U.S. News & World Report’s Best High Schools list placing Hillsborough County high schools in seven of the top 10 positions. Hillsborough County Public Schools has been recognized as part of Forbes’ annual list of Best Employers for Diversity for promoting a welcoming and supportive environment that celebrates and values diversity and respect for all students and our employees.

About PT Solutions Physical Therapy

Founded in 2003, PT Solutions Physical Therapy is a privately held physical therapy practice based in Atlanta, Georgia, with more than 200 locations across 18 states. PT Solutions provides physical and occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, athletic training, and sports medicine services in outpatient, inpatient rehabilitation, and acute care settings. Earning a spot on Inc. 5000’s list of fastest growing private companies for six consecutive years, PT Solutions continues to expand its national footprint through its unique model of hospital partnerships, private acquisitions, and de novo clinics. Through its APTA Accredited residency program, PT Solutions educates, trains, and trusts its professionals to provide research-supported care in environments that are hospitality-driven and service-oriented. For more information on PT Solutions Physical Therapy and a complete list of locations, please visit PTSolutions.com.