Student-athletes take advantage of free physicals

Seventy-five Boundary County student athletes and their parents took advantage of the annual Free Sports Physical Clinic offered by Boundary Community Hospital and Boundary Community Clinics on July 31. Students in Grades 7, 9 and 11 who want to participate in sports are required to have a medical clearance exam to detect conditions that may predispose them to injury or would make participation in sports unsafe.

Students were greeted by BCSD Coaches led by Conrad Garner, Dean of Students and Athletic Director for Bonners Ferry High School, before proceeding through a series of health screenings. Each athlete completed a medical history questionnaire and rotated through five screening stations. Boundary Community Hospital staff assisted with recording height, weight, vision, vital signs, urinalysis, and an evaluation for neuromusculoskeletal function including range of motion, strength, balance and functional mobility. Finally, a physician or nurse practitioner examined and talked with them and gave them the final “all clear”.

A special thank you to the medical team who provided the final physical exams this year: Greg Botkin, MD, Extended Care Facility Medical Director; Mark Pruitt, MD, Emergency; Chuck Newhouse, MD, Emergency; Susan Layeux, MD, Hospital Chief of Staff and Boundary Community Clinics; Bev Yercheck, NP-C and Janet Lukehart, NP-C, Boundary Community Clinics.

Sunshine Bartlett and the Hospital’s Time Sensitive Emergencies Committee helped pass some of the wait time by providing students with information regarding motor vehicle safety, including seat belt use, as well as ice water, cookies and frozen treats.

Boundary Community Hospital offers a Sports Physical Clinic annually as a FREE service for Boundary County student athletes.