MEDICAL CARE
The Wake Forest University Department of Athletics is fortunate to
have obtained the services of Team Physicians who have tremendous backgrounds
in sports medicine. The Team Physician and Director of the Sports Medicine
Program for Wake Forest University is Dr. David Martin. An extensive
list of medical specialists has been assembled and will assist the
Team Physician when necessary.
Through the Team Physicians and the Athletic Training staff you are
provided complete medical coverage for the treatment of sports related
injuries and illnesses.
If you are a walk-on student athlete, once you have been approved
by your Head Coach and cleared to participate in intercollegiate athletics,
you will receive the same Athletic Training Room services as any student-athlete.
Physical Examinations
The University and the NCAA require a medical physical for all incoming freshman, transfer students and first year participants prior to any athletic activity of any kind. University policy states that all students must obtain a medical physical prior to enrollment. Physical exams are performed by the Team Physician in the Athletic Training Room. During this exam, your state of health is determined by the Team Physician who then must certify you to practice and compete. If you miss the "official sports physical" you will not be allowed to participate in your sport until a make-up physical exam is scheduled and obtained. All necessary medical documentation and physical exam findings must be on file in the Athletic Training Room before the first practice session.
All student-athletes must submit a completed annual medical history form prior to participation each academic year. No student-athlete may participate in any athletic activity until a satisfactory medical history form has been reviewed by the Sports Medicine staff and met the approval of the Team Physician. The Department of Athletics retains the right to require further medical examination based upon the student-athlete's medical history.
If you are taking any medications prescribed by a physician, you must notify the Sports Medicine staff and/or Team Physician immediately pertaining to the type, dosage, and frequency required. The use of any drug not prescribed by a physician is prohibited, and violation of this policy will subject the individual to appropriate disciplinary action (see Substance Abuse Education and Screening Program).
Treatment of Injury and Illness
All injuries and illnesses are to be reported to the Sports Medicine staff on the same day they occur. Upon initial evaluation by a Certified Athletic Trainer, the student-athlete will be referred to the Team Physician or Student Health Center as indicated. To protect the medical eligibility of the student-athlete, please utilize the services of the Athletic Training staff instead of seeking self-treatment and referral.
In case of an emergency or impending medical problem (outside normal operational Athletic Training Room hours) the student-athlete should immediately contact an Athletic Trainer for assistance and/or advice, regardless of the time of day. If unable to contact an Athletic Trainer in an emergency situation, the student-athlete should contact the Wake Forest University Student Health Center for instruction (see Procedures of Immediate Health Care). In emergencies during athletic related activities, medical attention will be arranged immediately for the student-athlete, normally by the Sports Medicine Staff.
A student-athlete who is referred to the Student Health Center or any other physician will be given a medical referral form in the Athletic Training Room. The student-athlete will take the necessary form(s) to their appointment and return it to the Athletic Trainer with pertinent instructions and signature of the attending physician. All referrals are to be returned immediately following the appointment. Referrals to specific medical personnel will be made by the Sports Medicine staff with the assistance of the Team Physician. The Department of Athletics does not assume any financial responsibility for medical treatment obtained without a referral from a Certified Staff Athletic Trainer or Team Physician. If you desire medical attention other than provided by the WFU Sports Medicine staff for injuries occurring as described, you may do so at your own expense, and with the assistance of the Team Physician. A student-athlete who is seeking medical care outside of our department will not be allowed to participate until deemed appropriate in writing from his/her personal physician; then reviewed by the Team Physician.
Dental Services
The Department of Athletics will assume a degree of responsibility for payment in the case of dental damage incurred to teeth and other injuries to the mouth only while participating in practice or intercollegiate games (events). Extraction of wisdom teeth, teeth cleaning, provisional filling of teeth or other dental work unless the dental work is directly related to injury to the teeth that occurred during practice or competition is considered a non-permissible medical expense. Proper mouth guards should be worn during all practices and games.
Optical Services
The Department of Athletics may provide glasses, contact lenses or protective eye wear (goggles) for student-athletes who require visual correction in order to participate in intercollegiate athletics. Replacement for contact lenses will be provided in the event a lens is lost during a practice or game. All other losses must be the responsibility of the individual. Losses must be reported during the game, practice or immediately following the event if the Department of Athletics is to replace a lost or damaged lens.
INSURANCE COVERAGE
Wake Forest University Department of Athletics maintains "athletic-related" insurance on all intercollegiate athletic teams. This type of insurance is considered a secondary or co-insurance policy. This University policy was established to cover injuries sustained while participating in intercollegiate athletics. Additionally, the NCAA holds a catastrophic injury and disability policy on all student-athletes.
Like many other Universities within the NCAA, the Department of Athletics asks that the parents of student-athletes use their personal insurance as "primary" coverage for medical expenses. It is strongly recommended parents maintain medical coverage for their son or daughter to cover non-athletically related injuries or illnesses. There may be circumstances in which the Wake Forest University Department of Athletics is forbidden through the NCAA to provide assistance for medical conditions or accidents.
Parents are requested to provide current insurance coverage information. An annual insurance questionnaire provided by the Department of Athletics must be completed for every student-athlete before the first practice of the season. No student-athlete may participate in any athletic activity until the Department of Athletics has received a completed questionnaire.
Information provided on the questionnaire may be subject to periodic review to assure the information on file is current. The Department of Athletics will not be held responsible in the event an athlete or parent does not notify or indicate changes within their insurance coverage. When returning the completed questionnaire, parents are requested to submit a photocopy of the insurance card provided by their insurance carrier. This has been requested by our health care providers in order to eliminate confusion in billing and expedite authorization for medical services.
Many insurance carriers make payment directly to the subscriber (i.e. parent) especially if the parents reside outside the state of North Carolina. All payments must be sent to the provider of the medical service (physician, hospital, lab, etc.) for credit to the student-athlete's account. Providers are able to obtain information regarding payments made to subscribers. Parents should not jeopardize the eligibility of their son/daughter by failing to forward payments to providers. Cases of this nature are considered insurance fraud and will be sent to collection proceedings against the insurance subscriber.
Due to increasing health care costs, many families have opted to change their insurance coverage to a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) or a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) involving a specific primary care physician or treatment program. These plans have strict regulations that may directly effect the services allowable to student-athletes from our Team Physician or other medical consultants. In certain events, it may be necessary for the injured student-athlete to seek the advice of the primary care physician. All medical insurance claims for injuries sustained while participating in Wake Forest University athletic-related events will be filed as follows:
If you or your parents have any questions concerning the Sports Medicine Program or insurance coverage, please feel free to contact the Sports Medicine Department at (336) 758-4188.
FACILITIES
The Athletic Training Rooms are for the prevention, treatment, and
rehabilitation of intercollegiate athletes. Treatments are administered
only upon the Team Physician’s or a Certified Staff Athletic
Trainer’s approval. All treatments are performed until the medical
staff determines that further treatment is no longer required. The
Athletic Training Rooms are located on the ground floor of Reynolds
Gymnasium, the Athletic Center, and the Miller Center.
The morning hours are primarily reserved for the evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation of athletic injuries. Appointments should be made with the Staff Athletic Trainer assigned to your sport. Afternoon hours are reserved for pre-practice preparation and post-practice treatments only - unless there is an emergency.
Athletic Training Room Rules
An extensive list of medical specialists has been created to work
with the Department of Athletics. These consultants are well trained
in the field of sports medicine and understand the special needs of
the student-athlete. By adhering to the physical referral guidelines,
our student-athletes are provided the most expeditious and efficient
health care.
The Wake Forest athletic administrative and coaching staffs condemn the use of any illegal chemicals or the abuse of any substance that endangers the safety and health of its student-athletes. The drug-testing program employed by the Department of Athletics gives you an additional reason to say "no" to any drug related temptations. Please refer to the Substance Abuse Education and Screening Program manual which is provided to you during your team's yearly NCAA certification meeting.
The Strength and Conditioning Coach will design a program, with the approval of the sport coach, tailored to the specific needs of each sport and its athletes. The major purpose of the Strength and Conditioning Coach is to help each athlete maximize his/her athletic potential specific to each sport. The qualities of successful athletes the Strength Coach will have you work on are:
The Bob McCreary Strength Complex is located in the Athletic Center and the telephone number is (336) 758-5629. The strength room rules have been designed for the safety of all those using the room.