Now is the Optimal Time to Schedule a Sports Physical
May 16, 2019
MIDLAND, Mich. – As the current school year winds down, it’s time to start thinking about scheduling your students’ sports physical for the upcoming 2019-20 academic year. “The optimal time to perform a sports physical is at least six weeks before the student’s official practices begin,” said Sports Medicine Specialist J.T. Pinney, M.D., medical director of MidMichigan’s WellSport Program.
The state of Michigan requires that every student have an annual sports physical in order to participate in middle or high school sports. The physical must be completed after April 15 of the previous school year. Scheduling a sports physical at least six weeks in advance allows time to evaluate and address any concerns without delaying the student’s participation in the sport.
“If your child has a primary care provider, we strongly encourage you to schedule their sports physical with their own physician or advanced practice provider as part of an annual well-visit,” said Pinney. Pairing a well check-up with a sports physical allows the primary care provider to also recommend any necessary immunizations before the next school year begins. Additionally, most insurance providers cover the complete cost of an annual well check-up.”
For middle or high school students who do not currently have a primary care provider, or if their provider is not available, sports physicals are being offered on a walk-in basis through MidMichigan Urgent Care locations in Alma, Clare, Freeland, Gladwin, Midland and West Branch at a discounted rate of $25. In addition, an expanded sports physical evaluation is available through MidMichigan’s WellSport Program which offers locations in Bay City, Midland and Mt. Pleasant.
MidMichigan Health is a non-profit health system, headquartered in Midland, Michigan, affiliated with Michigan Medicine, the health care division of the University of Michigan. MidMichigan Health covers a 23-county region with medical centers in Midland, Alpena, Alma, Clare, Gladwin, Mt. Pleasant and West Branch. In addition to its Medical Centers, MidMichigan Health also offers both home health care and physician services, and has a strong commitment to medical education. MidMichigan Physicians Group provides urgent care and medical offices in more than 30 specialties and subspecialties including cardiology, hematology/oncology, orthopedics, vascular surgery, family medicine and more. The MidMichigan Health Foundation supports patients and families served by MidMichigan Health by raising funds for equipment, services and programs. Currently, MidMichigan has more than 7,400 employees, volunteers and physicians and provided more than $144 million in community benefits in fiscal year 2018.
The state of Michigan requires that every student have an annual sports physical in order to participate in middle or high school sports. The physical must be completed after April 15 of the previous school year. Scheduling a sports physical at least six weeks in advance allows time to evaluate and address any concerns without delaying the student’s participation in the sport.
“If your child has a primary care provider, we strongly encourage you to schedule their sports physical with their own physician or advanced practice provider as part of an annual well-visit,” said Pinney. Pairing a well check-up with a sports physical allows the primary care provider to also recommend any necessary immunizations before the next school year begins. Additionally, most insurance providers cover the complete cost of an annual well check-up.”
For middle or high school students who do not currently have a primary care provider, or if their provider is not available, sports physicals are being offered on a walk-in basis through MidMichigan Urgent Care locations in Alma, Clare, Freeland, Gladwin, Midland and West Branch at a discounted rate of $25. In addition, an expanded sports physical evaluation is available through MidMichigan’s WellSport Program which offers locations in Bay City, Midland and Mt. Pleasant.
MidMichigan Health is a non-profit health system, headquartered in Midland, Michigan, affiliated with Michigan Medicine, the health care division of the University of Michigan. MidMichigan Health covers a 23-county region with medical centers in Midland, Alpena, Alma, Clare, Gladwin, Mt. Pleasant and West Branch. In addition to its Medical Centers, MidMichigan Health also offers both home health care and physician services, and has a strong commitment to medical education. MidMichigan Physicians Group provides urgent care and medical offices in more than 30 specialties and subspecialties including cardiology, hematology/oncology, orthopedics, vascular surgery, family medicine and more. The MidMichigan Health Foundation supports patients and families served by MidMichigan Health by raising funds for equipment, services and programs. Currently, MidMichigan has more than 7,400 employees, volunteers and physicians and provided more than $144 million in community benefits in fiscal year 2018.
