Keeping athletes safe under the Friday night lights will be part of the role for a new athletic trainer who will work with Frankfort-Elberta Schools.
Alexis Donovan, ATC, will focus on helping athletes train safely and play healthy this year, thanks to an agreement between Frankfort-Elberta Area Schools and Munson Healthcare Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital.
“Frankfort-Elberta Area Schools boast a very talented coaching staff. Having trained sports medicine professionals on the field at their disposal allows coaches to focus on the competition and leave medical decision making to the trained professionals,” said Adrienne Jones, PT, DPT, SCS, manager of Rehabilitation at Paul Oliver. “Trainers help identify issues early and can prevent injury, decreasing an athlete’s time away from sport. The Sports Medicine team can also help to direct student athletes to the appropriate medical professionals for care and they work closely with school administrators, coaches, and parents to help increase awareness of concussion, and navigate the MHSAA laws surrounding safe return to play.”
Donovan recently graduated from Lake Superior State University and completed her internship at Paul Oliver, allowing her to become familiar with local resources, evidenced-based return to play protocols, and get to know the community. She is excited about her new role.
“As with any new position, there will be a lot of new things to experience and learn, but being here as an intern the past four months has helped develop a strong foundation to start from,” she said.
Paul Oliver also recently welcomed Matt Jackson, D.O., as their new director of Sports Medicine to oversee sports medicine efforts and ensure athletes receive the same kind of support as those in urban areas across the state. His sports medicine certification along with his trauma training make him an invaluable asset to the team.
Dr. Jackson commends the Paul Oliver Sports Medicine and Rehab team members for their work with local school districts to initiate athletic training services, create awareness of injury prevention, and concussion prevention and treatment.
“There is a gap in coordinated rural sports medicine between Traverse City and Grand Rapids,” he said. “The initiatives we’re working on are really in line with what you might expect to see in a metropolitan area, and help prepare student athletes for safety in whatever is next, whether that is college sports, active adult lifestyles, or in the workforce.”
Athletic trainers support students in the offseason, focusing on proper stretching, warm-up, hydration, and conditioning to prevent injuries during competition. They also provide sideline support during competition to treat and rehabilitate injured players, connecting them to a higher level of care when necessary.
Frankfort-Elberta Schools Athletic Director Dave Jackson said athletic trainers have become an essential part of high school sports.
“We know that more and more, having a trainer to support athletes has become the norm,” he said. “In discussion with the board and parents, it is clear that this has become a priority. It really is an issue of health and safety. We want to ensure that our students are practicing and playing in an environment that values their safety.”
Even with strong support for the idea, schools often struggle to find funds to contract athletic trainers for their services. Jones said Paul Oliver believes strongly in promoting safety in sports, and has historically offered discounted services and helped secure grant funding to support Sports Medicine Programming at other local schools, including Benzie Central.
“We work creatively with the schools to help both parties stay within their operational budgets,” Jones said. “We are thankful for financial support from the Munson Healthcare Foundation which provided a substantial gift to cover the remaining costs at Frankfort-Elberta Schools.”
For more information about Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital services, go to munsonhealthcare.org/pomh.