Scotland County Hospital & Blessing Physician Services Provides Local StudentsFree Physical Exam and Cardiac Screening
Scotland County Hospital & Blessing Physician Services Provides Local Students Free Physical Exam and Cardiac Screening
MEMPHIS, MO – The Scotland County Hospital in Memphis, Missouri, will be conducting free sports physicals for students going into grades 7th – 12th at Clark County High School during the “Tomahawks & Spears” Sports Physicals event TODAY, March 26th. The Hospital also provides this service to Schuyler & Scotland School Districts.
Physicians, nurses and a variety of other health professionals and volunteers from the Hospital will conduct the physical exams at the school in Kahoka and collaborate with Blessing Physician Services, the Clark County Health Department, coaches and the school nurse. The physical exam is conducted in accordance with the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) guidelines and their exam form is used for the physicals. Additionally, Kahoka Medical Clinic physicians Dr. Matt Cormier & Dr. Brigitte Cormier assist with the physicals.
As an addition to the free physical examination, John Hammock, MD, a cardiologist from Blessing Physician Services and the provider of the weekly cardiology clinic and non-invasive diagnostic service at Memphis Medical Services, will be conducting & interpreting a cardiac ultrasound screening on each student, age 13 – 18 with signed consent, who participates in the “Tomahawks & Spears” event. The cardiac ultrasound will look for two rare diseases – Marfan Syndrome and Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy, which are particularly important to detect early in young athletes.
According to officials at the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA), the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee of MSHSAA is not aware of any other hospital, in the state of Missouri that conduct this type of cardiology screening on Missouri high school athletes and students. Scotland County Hospital, CEO, Marcia Dial said, “This is our commitment to these schools, students and parents to show them our dedication to their health and their future as these kids stay healthy and safe and succeed in extra-curricular activities at school.”
Prior to the “Tomahawks & Spears” event, a medical history is completed by the parent or guardian along with a signed release for their child to have all of the free examinations. The physical exam is based on the requirements from MSHSAA and includes; height, weight, blood pressure, pulse, and vision. The physicians & providers examine the Neck, Chest, Cardiovascular, Abdomen, Genitourinary, Skin, and Musculoskeletal systems. Stations are set up for each modality and at the end, each student has had a comprehensive health screening, a free T-shirt and a healthy snack. This examination is used to evaluate student’s abilities to participate in school sports and activities. If potential problems are noted, the student is advised to follow up with their primary care physician. Barbie Courtright, RN, from Scotland County Hospital and coordinator of the sports physical events in these school districts says, “This program is very important, since this may be the only physical examination a student will receive in a year’s time. Keeping these students healthy and detecting any problems early, is really the reason the Hospital puts so many resources into this project.”
