FLH’s Athletic Training Program aides School in Achieving National Recognition

Finger Lakes Health's (FLH) athletic training program partnered with Geneva High School to receive the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) 1^st Team Safe Sports School award. The award champions safety and recognizes secondary schools that have met the recommended standards to improve safety in sports. The award reinforces the importance of providing the best level of care, injury prevention, and treatment.

“As we have with our athletic training services at Penn Yan Academy, we wanted to develop a sports medicine program for the athletes of Geneva High School that meets the NATA guidelines for safe school designation,” states Maureen Loyal, director of rehabilitation services for Finger Lakes Health. “A comprehensive team and streamlined methods to get care for our community athletes to keep them in the game, and on the playing field is the ultimate goal. Especially this past year, when conditions limited our student athlete’s participation, having access to the athletic trainer on a daily basis who works closely with school officials can provide peace of mind to parents, coaches and players.”

Finger Lakes Health’s athletic trainer, Caitlin (Caiti) Sharman, MS, ATC, FAKTR has worked closely with school officials, including Tricia Budgar, Geneva High School’s athletic director and Ave Alexander, RN, the school’s nurse to create a continuum of care that includes FLH services.

FLH providers, James Mark, M.D., board-certified orthopaedic and sports medicine surgeon, Grace Freier, M.D., FAAP, board-certified pediatrician and school physician, along with physical therapists, worked with Sharman on reviewing return to play protocols and establishing protocols.

Finger Lakes Health Rehabilitation Services provides athletic training services at Geneva High School, Penn Yan Academy and Mynderse Academy five days per week, assisting student-athletes at all levels. For more information on how Finger Lakes Health can provide athletic training services for your school programs, please call 315 787-4570.