Injured or Ill??? How to utilize the Northern Illinois University Program for your athletic health care needs
Mission:
Our mission as the Sports Medicine Staff is to provide the student-athlete with a comprehensive medical care system to include the prevention, evaluation, treatment and reconditioning of athletic injuries/illnesses while also providing health oriented educational opportunities to the student-athlete. Through personal interaction, we will strive to achieve the World-Class experience for each student athlete at NIU.
General Policy:
The Sports Medicine Staff is made up of physicians, certified athletic trainers, nutritionist, psychologist, nurses, exercise physiologists, and strength and conditioning specialists from Northern Illinois University.
Referrals to other medical specialists (dentists, vision care, cardiologists, etc) from the NIU Sports Medicine Staff will be made when deemed necessary. To better serve the NIU student-athlete, the Sports Medicine Staff needs to be well informed and involved in the health care of that student-athlete. This includes ALL illnesses, injuries, and/or conditions that may affect the physical and mental status of the student-athlete. The Athletic Trainer is the front line of this system. PLEASE REPORT ALL INJURIES/ILLNESSES IN A TIMELY FASHION so that we may provide the best possible care.
Athletic Training Rooms:
There are four athletic training rooms on the campus of Northern Illinois University. The athletic training rooms at Huskie Stadium and the Convocation Center are the main facilities. Anderson Hall and Evens Field House athletic training rooms are only open for coverages of practices as needed. All of the facilities are equipped with treatment modalities, exercise equipment and rehabilitation devices.
Athletic Training Room Hours:
Convocation Center:
Monday: 7AM-12PM, 1PM-5PM
Tuesday-Friday: 7AM-5PM
Saturday-Sunday: By appointment only
Huskie Stadium:
Monday-Friday: 7AM-8:30AM, 1PM-5PM
Saturday-Sunday: By appointment only
(times are subject to change, and new times will be posted)
How to Report Injuries:
It is the student athlete's responsibility to report any and all injuries/illnesses to the athletic training staff. Athletic injuries MUST BE REPORTED to the staff within72 hours of the incident. The best way to report an injury is to contact the athletic trainer assigned to the specific sport. If he/she is not available, any other staff member can be of assistance.
Prompt reporting of injuries allows the athletic training staff to begin initial care, follow up with appropriate treatment, and refer if deemed necessary. IN ORDER FOR A STUDENT-ATHLETE TO BE SEEN BY A TEAM PHYSICIAN, THEY MUST OBTAIN A REFERRAL FROM THE ATHLETIC TRAINING STAFF.
To See a Doctor:
With a referral from the athletic training staff, a team physician will see injured or ill student-athletes. Failure to obtain this referral will result in the student-athlete being responsible for any related expenses. Northern Illinois University Health Services is open Monday thru Friday 8AM-4:30PM and on Saturday 9AM till 1PM. The orthopedic team physician and/or other medical specialist will be seen by appointment only. Decisions regarding referral of a student-athlete to them will be made by the Northern Illinois University Health Service physicians and the athletic training staff.
Emergency Room:
Emergency Room is used for emergencies only!!! Blisters, sore throats, muscle strains, etc. are NOT emergencies. Extreme illness, serious uncontrollable bleeding and severe head injuries are examples of emergencies.
The student-athlete must try and contact a staff athletic trainer before using the Emergency Room. Emergency room care is expensive and the associated costs may not be the responsibility of the athletic department! The Athletic Department only provides secondary insurance coverage for injuries, which are a direct result of a formal practice or game. Contacting an athletic trainer may help avoid a costly bill.
Coverage of Practices and Events:
1) A member of the athletic training staff will be on hand or readily accessible at all competitive season practice sessions between 1-5 PM Monday-Friday during the academic year.
2) All other practices will be covered when considered necessary by the athletic training staff. It is the responsibility of the coaching staff to notify the athletic trainers of all practices in advance so as to secure coverage.
3) A member of the athletic training staff will be on hand or readily accessible for all home contests.
4) Within the restraints of team budgets, a member of the athletic training staff may travel with each team. If an athletic trainer is not able to travel with a given team, arrangements will be made with the host school to provide athletic training coverage when at all possible.
5) A physician will be in attendance or on call for all those events that are considered to have a high risk for serious injury. For other events, arrangements will be made to have physician services available within a reasonable amount of time.
6) Athletic trainers will be on hand prior to and post practices/events to care for any medical related needs or refer the athlete to the team physician.
Policies and Procedures
1) Every student-athlete must have a physical examination by the NIU team physician to qualify to participate.
2) Prior to the physical exam, the student-athlete must have completed and have on file the parent insurance information form.
3) Decisions regarding the medical status of a student-athlete for practice or game participation shall be the sole responsibility of the team physician and athletic training staff.
4) The athletic department WILL NOT BE FINANCIALLY OR LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE for injuries that are NOT directly related to intercollegiate athletic participation at NIU.
5) It is the student-athlete and his/her parents' responsibility to provide primary insurance coverage.
6) Payment for medical expenses resulting for injuries/illnesses sustained by student-athletes will be defined as follows:
a. The athletic department only provides secondary insurance coverage for injuries that are a DIRECT result of athletic participation in an organized practice or competition for a rostered student-athlete.
b. Routine dental care is not provided.
c. The replacement of lost or damaged eyewear during an official practice or event.
7) Other provisions or limitations:
a. Injuries MUST be reported within 48 hours
b. Expenses from referral to a specialist when the medical staff has approved it
c. Medical expenses no covered by primary insurance, but authorized by the team physician and athletic training staff when it is directly related to athletics participation
d. Routine eye exams are the responsibility of the student-athlete
e. Prescription medicine authorized by the team physician
f. Medication for pre-existing conditions will not be covered (i.e. diabetes, asthma, etc). Medication for sexually transmitted diseases, diet supplements, antacids and birth control pills will NOT be covered
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