ST. ELIZABETH'S HOSPITAL: HSHS Athletes Advantage Trainers honored during National Athletic Training Month

By Press release submission

Mar 9, 2020

St. Elizabeth's Hospital issued the following announcement on March 3.

The Certified Athletic Trainers (ATs) of HSHS Athletes Advantage Sports Medicine at HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital are celebrating National Athletic Training Month during March 2020. National Athletic Training Month spreads awareness about the important work of athletic trainers. “ATs Impact Health Care Through Action” is the theme of this year’s National Athletic Training Month, which is sponsored by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA).

Certified athletic trainers are health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to provide emergency care and prevent, evaluate and treat injuries and medical conditions for people in work, life and play including athletes, industrial workers, military service members and public servants.

HSHS Athletes Advantage Sports Medicine has been providing certified athletic trainers to schools throughout the region since 2002. Starting with one school and one certified athletic trainer, Athletes Advantage now has 15 certified athletic trainers and two PRNs covering 14 high schools, one junior college and one university.

Athletic trainers serve students at:

Althoff Catholic High School, Belleville
Breese Central High School
Breese Mater Dei High School
Brownstown High School
Carlyle High School
Cumberland High School
Dieterich High School
Greenville High School
Greenville University
Highland High School
O’Fallon Township High School
Okawville High School
St. Anthony High School, Effingham
St. Elmo High School
Southwestern Illinois College, Belleville
Wesclin High School, Trenton

Through these important partnerships, certified athletic trainers attend games and practices at the schools to provide on-site injury evaluation, management of concussion injuries and sport-specific rehabilitation to ensure ideal outcomes. Additionally, through the Athletes Advantage Program, student athletes have access to licensed physical therapists and assistants to rehabilitate sports injuries, working in conjunction with certified athletic trainers to ensure a comprehensive rehabilitation and timely return to activity.

The Athletes Advantage team also takes their expertise out to the community during fitness events such as races and walks.

“We do many volunteer events. We have provided medical coverage for the Belleville Marathon the last couple of years. We assist with HSHS health fairs and provide summer camp opportunities in our service areas focusing on strength, speed and agility,” said HSHS Athletes Advantage Manager Jamie Wagner, MEd, ATC, CSCS.

Athletes Advantage’s certified athletic trainers include:

Program Coordinator

Jamie Wagner, MEd, ATC, CSCS

Southwestern Illinois College

Amy Von Hatten, ATC

Althoff Catholic High School

Suzi Wessel, ATC

Highland High School

Erin Hoepfner, ATC

Breese Central High School

Marty Stewart, ATC

Breese Mater Dei High School

Sloane Hogg, ATC