Community Outreach

Sports Medicine in the Schools
Baptist Health Care FirstRehab is the sports medicine care provider for Santa Rosa and Escambia county high school athletes. Through its commitment to the schools, Baptist FirstRehab provides comprehensive sports medicine services year round, both on and off the playing field. Certified athletic trainers (ATCs) are assigned to each school in the county. Trainers visit the school daily to evaluate athletes. They provide coverage at practices and home games for injury evaluation and management, plus follow-up care. Saturday morning injury clinics are provided at the respective schools during football season. The ATCs are available to the coaches, parents and athletes for consultation, advice and assistance. The trainers help navigate athletes through the healthcare delivery process.

In addition to physical conditioning, maintenance and rehabilitation, FirstRehab’s ATCs and therapists are providing sports medicine education and instruction for athletes, coaches and athletic organizations, including a glimpse into sports medicine career opportunities.

Baptist FirstRehab ATCs will work alongside the schools’ team physicians. Pre-participation exams are an integral part of the sport medicine outreach program. This year Baptist Health Care and affiliated physicians have provided more than 2000 free sports physicals for athletes in both Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Through the partnership with the schools, FirstRehab provides the physicals, valued at $400,000, at no charge to parents.