WINNEMUCCA - Humboldt General Hospital staff, administration, and board members got an in-person thank you from Lowry High School students Beau Billingsley, Kerry Buckmaster, Brandon Okuma, Calvin Connors, Ere Higbee, and Taylor Schwartz, along with LHS vice principal and athletic administrator Ray Parks, head basketball coach Chad Peters and P.E. teacher Tim Billingsley.
The group gave a sincere thank you for upgrades made to the training facilities and the sports training program at the high school.
HGH involvement made it possible for the Lowry High School sports program to upgrade both of the sports training rooms at the high school - one in the old gym and one in the new gym - and to take steps to upgrade the sports training program in general.
It is Louis Mendiola's job as HGH wellness coordinator to look for ways the hospital can help boost health in the community.
Mendiola, who is a graduate of Lowry High School, saw the possibility for a partnership between the hospital and the high school to improve the sports training program.
He saw the opportunity for dual positive results - assisting in high school athletics (a proven motivator for student grades and healthier lifestyle choices) and providing a way for more students to be involved.
Mendiola explained that about a year ago, local physician Dr. Leonard Perkinson started working with physical therapists Andrew Hillyer (also a school board member) and Greg Morris at high school sporting events. The doctor was doing that on his own time, but since the hospital insurance covers his activities, putting together a partnership to improve the facilities he was working in and the medical supplies he had access to seemed a natural connection.
The training room improvements included cleaning out the rooms. Some of the equipment had reportedly been there since the school was built in the 1960s. The rooms then got a coat of paint and new flooring. Some of the training tables where athletes are taped, wrapped, evaluated, etc., were reupholstered; some had to be replaced entirely. Sports first-aid bags, a small ice machine, shelving for organization and locking
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cabinets for medical supplies were added to both training rooms. Peters said TV's with Internet capability were also installed, making it possible to use the Internet to allow the students to see proper wrapping and taping techniques as well as other sports medicine applications. "We were behind other schools in our facility and now we're ahead," commented Peters.
The other opportunity for hospital involvement came in connection with the career technical education focus at the high school. HGH Emergency Medical Services (EMS)has been involved for some time with a very successful Emergency Medical Technician class for high school students. Working on adding a basic sports medicine curriculum and giving students the chance to practice their skills with student athletes was one more way to involve students who are interested - not just in sports medicine - but in the medical field in general.
Some of the class members are also taking the EMT class offered in cooperation with HGH EMS, and some are not. Senior Jacob Aitken is also in the EMT class and said he's enjoying the things he's learning, including how to locate an injury site and evaluate the injury. Senior Phimphisut Kringkrathok was involved in the EMT class, but unable to finish because of schedule conflicts. But she's still very interested in medicine and sports medicine particularly. "My mom is a nurse so I'm interested in the medical field," said Kringkrathok. Senior Jancy Ulch is taking the class because she's interested in physical therapy. Senior Joseph Pastorino said he's planning on going into the military and being a medic. Ryan Rasmussen is a junior and interested in the medical field. He's involved in the sports medicine class and wants to take the EMT class next year.
Teacher Tim Billingsley emphasized that the sports medicine class is really just barely getting started. He said he's been talking to trainers in other districts and he feels the involvement of a certified trainer in the class is what will eventually be needed. "I have really enjoyed working with the kids so far, but the next step is to have someone more specialized to help take them and the class to the next level," said Billingsley.
According to Parks, Mendiola, and Billingsley, the goal is to come up with a program to provide an enhanced level of care to student athletes and to give other students the opportunity to learn the very basics of sports medicine medical evaluation and treatment. In the class, students can learn about sports medicine and then practice their knowledge by helping as assistant trainers for student athletes.
Peters said they're learning skills such as taping to give extra support to joints such as knees, ankles, or wrists, and icing injuries. Mendiola noted there aren't many other opportunities for a student to get hands-on training in health care, and said that this class and the EMT class will build on each other.
Billingsley told the hospital board members that books have been ordered, and the curriculum is being developed in coordination with School District Superintendent Dave Jensen, Parks, and HGH EMS.
The basic sports medicine class at Lowry won't result in any formal certification for students as there is no formal certification offered for basic sports medicine techniques, according to Mendiola. Students involved in the EMT class do receive a formal certification upon passing the class and completing all requirements.
What benefit does the hospital receive from all of this involvement? "It's an investment in the future of the health and wellness of the students and the community," said Mendiola.
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