Council to provide independent medical expertise to WCU Athletics

 

Cullowhee, N.C. – To maximize the health care provided to its student-athletes, Western Carolina Athletics has partnered with the U.S. Council for Athletes’ Health (USCAH) to collaborate with university and athletics department officials on medical and well-being initiatives in support of Catamount student-athletes.

 

Western Carolina is one of the first institutions to enter into a strategic partnership with USCAH, which brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise that WCU leadership believes will be of value to its student-athletes, coaches and staff throughout the current pandemic and beyond.

 

“Our talented athletic training unit, sports medicine staff and team physicians continue to do amazing work on behalf of the safety and well-being of our Catamount student-athletes,” said WCU Director of Athletics, Alex Gary. “The additional resources that will be available through this partnership will add value to those efforts through access to the expertise of other medical professionals. I believe this will be a tremendous benefit to our student-athletes not only as we navigate the challenges of training and competing during the current health crisis, but on into the future.”

 

Earlier this year, USCAH presented to WCU student-athletes and their families in an online webinar some of the issues surrounding COVID-19 and the potential risks associated with intercollegiate competition. The presentation allowed WCU’s student-athletes and parents/guardians to ask questions while considering their willingness to move forward with participation in sport in 2020-21.

 

Though navigating the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is currently at the forefront, the partnership also includes other services that will support Catamount student-athletes. Some of these services and deliverables include:

 

• Educational learning modules on important athlete health care and safety concepts for all WCU student-athletes, coaches and staff; service to include compliance tracking and credentialing;
• Programming designed to address compliance with current best practices and recommendations from Inter-Association Guidelines on Preventing Catastrophic Injury and Death in Collegiate Athletes and NCAA Concussion Safety Protocol Management mandates;
• Survey management system allowing WCU to obtain and compile feedback regarding student-athlete support areas from student-athletes, coaches, administrators and other institutional stakeholders;
• Policy design, development and review process for all student-athlete health, safety and sports medicine policies and procedures;
• Collaboration with WCU Athletic Department and Sports Medicine staff athletic medicine and health and safety initiatives, especially as related to COVID-19 responses at WCU and planning for WCU events;
• Unlimited access to USCAH team for consultation on individual policy, event or episode feedback;
• USCAH Preferred Status, a designation that certifies WCU’s commitment to ongoing evaluation and education for optimal athlete health care and safety.

 

 

“The U.S. Council for Athletes’ Health is proud to collaborate with Western Carolina University to prioritize student-athlete health and safety. This partnership emphasizes the commitment WCU Athletics has made to promote an ongoing proactive approach to all aspects of athletic healthcare,” said James R. Borchers, MD MPH, Co-Founder and President at USCAH.

 

ABOUT USCAH: The U.S. Council for Athletes’ Health (USCAH) was founded upon the need within athletic institutions for trusted, independent partners with the experience to advise and consult with organizations regarding their healthcare delivery system. USCAH is committed to providing independent and unbiased medical expertise to organizations and individuals dedicated to the optimal health and safety of the athletes they serve.

 

USCAH is comprised of a diverse, multidisciplinary team of medical experts with experience in high-level positions within intermediate and collegiate athletic organizations. The team was strategically comprised of experts positioned to address all aspects of athletic healthcare, including compliance, assessment, education, personnel, programming, and more.

 

For more information, visit uscah.com.