03.25.2021
To prepare for fall sports, Munson Healthcare has a few preliminary recommendations about conducting sports physicals based on guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and CDC.
Primary Care Providers (PCPs)
- Sports physicals are best done as part of an annual wellness visit with a patient’s PCP. Please encourage parents to call now to get an annual wellness visit scheduled!
- Patients who have had (or thought they had) COVID should have only have their sports physical conducted by their PCP and must be cleared before returning to sports.
- For PCPs who perform sports physicals, current AAP and ACC guidelines for incorporation of cardiac screening into sports physicals and return to play algorithms are posted on our website.
Mass Sports Physical Clinics
- Munson Healthcare will not host or “sponsor” any mass sports physical clinics due to the concerns for patient safety during the pandemic.
- Many MHC providers support sports physical clinics that are sponsored by school districts or other groups. MHC’s recommendation is that those clinics should:
- Offer physicals by appointment, not first-come-first-served, to reduce crowding.
- When scheduling, pre-screen for a history of COVID-19 and direct any individual who has a history of COVID-19 to obtain their sports physical from their PCP.
- Ensure physical distancing can occur in all phases of the clinic.
- Ensure that universal masking is required.
- Ensure that hand hygiene is available and practiced by volunteers and patients.
- Ensure that the clinics follow the rules for occupancy in the space where they are held.
- Offer physicals by appointment, not first-come-first-served, to reduce crowding.
We continue to working closely with the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) and will keep providers up-to-date on any changes to the sports physical forms or state requirements.