National Athletic Trainers’ Association Recognizes Robert Wood Johnson Somerset with Safe School Sports Award

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Somerset has been awarded the 1^st Team Safe School Sport Award by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) for its work with Bound Brook High School athletes. The award champions safety and recognizes secondary schools that provide safe environments for student athletes and reinforces the importance of providing the best level of care, injury prevention and treatment. In addition to Bound Brook High School, RWJUH Somerset also provides athletic trainers for several local school districts including the Somerville, Manville, Bridgewater-Raritan, Princeton Day School and Rutgers University Club sports. RWJUH Somerset has been the official athletic training provider for the Somerset Patriots since 1999.

“We’re proud to receive this recognition and serve as an example of the many ways that certified athletic trainers can have a positive impact on the communities they serve through injury prevention and management strategies,” said Ryan Stevens, MPS, ATC, CSCS, Clinical Supervisor of Athletic Training and Wellness for RWJUH Somerset. “Working with secondary schools, collegiate and professional athletes we deliver high quality primary care sports medicine with a keen focus on safety and improving patient outcomes and overall wellness at the local level.”

RWJUH Somerset’s athletic trainers are board-certified healthcare professionals who specialize in preventing, evaluating, managing, and rehabilitating injuries that result from physical activity. As part of a complete healthcare team, athletic trainers work under the direction of a licensed physician and in cooperation with other professionals such as school nurses, physical therapists, athletics administrators, coaches and parents. Responsibilities include first aid and emergency care, acute and chronic injury evaluation and management, rehabilitation and return to play guidance, and developing injury reduction strategies. Athletic trainers also serve as the first line of care for the assessment, management, and return-to-activity guidance for those who sustain a concussion.

“Since 2010, RWJUH Somerset has been partnering with local schools to provide athletic training services vital to the safety of student athletes, said Anthony Egan, ACT, Athletic Director of Bound Brook High School. Our work includes promoting safe, appropriate practice and competition facilities, developing injury and illness prevention strategies to create safe athletic environments for students, and educating athletes and parents of the potential benefits and risks in sports and proper injury management.”

RWJUH Somerset offers an extensive range of therapeutic programs and services (at five NJ locations) based on the most advanced treatment approaches and technologies in rehabilitative and sports medicine. For more information about Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital’s athletic training program visit http://www.rwjuh.edu/ssp/athle.... For information on physical therapy and sports medicine services visit http://www.rwjuh.edu/ssp/sport...

To learn more about RWJUH, please visit www.rwjuh.edu. Follow us on Twitter at www.rwjuh.edu/twitter and Facebook at www.rwjuh.edu/facebook.