Reporting Injuries / Illnesses
All injuries and illnesses must be reported to a staff certified athletic trainer immediately and prior to initiating care. Whether in-season or off-season, the student-athlete is required to communicate with a member of the Sports Medicine staff prior to initiating care.
Treatment Referrals
If the athletic trainer determines the student-athlete needs to be referred for further evaluation or diagnostic testing, the athletic trainer will coordinate care and arrange appointments with our panel of team physicians and providers for the student-athlete.
At NKU, we are fortunate to have a unique and excellent relationship with our head team physician since 1986,
Dr. James Bilbo of Commonwealth Orthopaedic Centers, and an extensive panel of providers. During the academic year, our team physician has clinic hours in the athletic training room at least weekly on Wednesday afternoon. Dr. Bilbo frequently visits the training room at other times during the week and is often at home sporting events and sometimes away events. The Sports Medicine staff is able to call the team physician's office or any of our providers' offices to get our student-athletes evaluated immediately and to facilitate test scheduling. The severity and type of injury and illness will determine how the athletic trainer refers the student-athlete to the team physician, either in the athletic training room or directly to the office.
This is a tremendous advantage for our student-athletes and their parents. This service not only helps NKU and our student-athletes financially, but it also allows the injured student-athlete to be evaluated by the team physician at a minimum weekly in the training room and/or at home events. This has produced a time-tested, high quality, efficient, and well-coordinated program of care for safe return to sport for our student-athletes. NKU's Sports Medicine staff wants parents of our student-athletes to be aware of all care, and parents can speak to the athletic trainers or physicians at any time and are welcome and encouraged to accompany the student-athlete to any or all visits. The Sports Medicine staff wants to communicate as much as possible with parents so they are part of the decision process.
Second Opinions / Outside Network
Parents and student-athletes are permitted to utilize physicians or other healthcare professionals other than those associated with NKU Sports Medicine. Unfortunately, this usually results in less effective communication with NKU Sports Medicine staff and less coordinated and efficient care for the student-athlete, which can cause delays in his or her safe return to sport. It is extremely important to note that NKU Athletics is
NOT financially responsible for any expenses incurred when seeking a second opinion or receiving care outside the network.
The Sports Medicine staff does ask that the student-athlete first talk to an NKU athletic trainer prior to going to another physician. If rehabilitation is needed, the student-athlete must have had prior authorization by an NKU athletic trainer for rehabilitation to be conducted in the NKU Athletic Training facilities by the NKU Sports Medicine staff.
