Background
During my first year at Marian University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, I was paired with Primary Record Medical Advisor Dr. Chris Ross. He introduced me to Primary Record, and I immediately fell in love with the project. Before medical school, I worked as an Emergency Room Tech and spent countless hours on the phone with other hospitals and medical systems trying to obtain patient records. This often took me away from patient care. I believe in the mission of Primary Record and the service they provide. It is my dream to one day work in an emergency room and hear a patient say they use Primary Record, knowing I was once a part of the team.
For my summer internship, I focused on understanding how Primary Record could be applied to better take care of student athletes.
The Growth of Student Athletics
In 2019, the Department of Health and Human Services set a long-term goal of having 60.3% of school-aged children playing at least one sport by 2030. According to Project Play, data from 2020-21 indicates that 50.7% of children ages 6-17 played at least one sport. This amounts to approximately 27 million children! (Source)
The Dreaded Call
Having played travel soccer and football, I spent most weekends in different states from middle school to my senior year of high school. Any parent with a child in sports dreads the moment their child gets hurt during a game. Modern medicine has enabled more children to play sports despite chronic conditions like Type 1 diabetes and asthma. This can lead to scary situations for parents, coaches, and players.
Travel Teams
As children grow older, their teams often travel to different cities and states for games, where they may not have established medical care. Injuries and illnesses are part of sports, and access to a child’s medical history is crucial when they need medical attention. This reliance on the athlete and their families to provide medical information can be a pain point for providers. Additionally, the medical care for child athletes often spans multiple specialties and electronic medical record systems.
Empowering Athletic Trainers with Primary Record
Athletic trainers play a critical role in the health and safety of child athletes. With Primary Record, families can control the use and sharing of their healthcare information, ensuring trainers have immediate access to essential medical records when traveling.
Conclusion
Having medical information readily available provides peace of mind for families with children who travel for sports or have chronic medical conditions. It also benefits medical providers, as having a complete patient history reduces uncertainty and improves care. With Primary Record, athletic trainers and healthcare providers can ensure the safety and well-being of child athletes wherever they go.
