Pre-Participation Physicals

This week and next, pre-participation physicals will be provided to the student-athletes at our area high schools.

Under the direction of Maryville Orthopedic Clinic (thank you Drs. Bell, Morgan, Griffith, Thomas, Winn, and Asbury) whose doctors also serve as team physicians for our local schools, these would be impossible without the huge contributions from the physicians at Blount Memorial Hospital and East Tennessee Medical Group, as well as other local doctors, athletic trainers, physical therapists, physician assistants, and nurses.

This annual event is a valuable service to our local schools, giving a baseline of safety to sports participation.  Held en masse until just a few years ago, now each high school is done at their own school and coordinated by their team physician and head athletic trainer (and in case you're wondering, we were doing these in Blount County long before they were even thought about in Knoxville).

But it is not medical care.  It was never meant to be medical care.

It was meant to be a screening process to make sure that it is safe for your child to participate in inter-scholastic sports.

It was meant to identify health issues that need medical follow-up, maybe before they can participate in their sport.

Every (I repeat...EVERY) child of school age needs a pediatrician.  Yes, I know that is terribly self-serving since my daughter is a local pediatrician, but I've been preaching that same sermon since before she was twelve and wanted to be a veterinarian.

Every child needs a medical doctor who knows that child's medical and family history.  Who can call them by name when they walk in the door.

A doctor who can be honest and thorough because they know your child and his or her family.  And who doesn't have to worry that you're going to change doctors just because you disagree with them.

A doctor with whom your child can be honest and open because he or she trusts that doctor.  There are just some things that they might talk to a doctor about when they won't talk to you.

I ask that you help us take the best possible care of your child by establishing this relationship with a pediatrician.

You may think that you can't afford it but I suggest that you can't afford not to do it.  I would remind you that there are all sorts of resources out there to help you afford the care your child should have.

And as the parent of children that benefited from this service, I suggest that you join me in a big round of applause for our own medical community for making this happen.