Merit Health Natchez Expands Sports Medicine Services to Alcorn State University
2/14/2016
NATCHEZ, Miss. (February 15, 2016) - Merit Health Natchez has expanded its sports medicine services for area schools to include Alcorn State University.
“Merit Health Natchez has worked closely with Alcorn State University President Dr. Alfred Rankins, Jr. and Director of Athletics Derek Horne, to provide this service,” said Eric Robinson, CEO of Merit Health Natchez. “We’re proud to have our athletic trainers caring for the health and wellness of Alcorn’s student athletes.”
As part of the Sports Medicine Program at Merit Health Natchez, the service offers access to certified athletic trainers at games and practices, where trainers assist with first aid and assessment of injuries. Trainers also maintain health-related documentation, communicate with the coaching staff and provide certain preventive screening tests. Activities also include wrapping or icing areas before and after games, monitoring the progress of student athletes toward certain health goals, and acting as liaison between the team physician and the coach.
“The benefits of this arrangement with Merit Health Natchez are invaluable with regard to our student-athletes’ health and helping them stay healthy during the year,” said Derek Horne.
As the oldest public historically black land-grant institution in the United States and the second-oldest state-supported institution of higher learning in Mississippi, Alcorn State University is steeped in history, and this history includes a proud tradition of athletic programs.
“It is a privilege for us to play a part in the safety and protection of the student-athletes,” said Michelle Kaiser, Director of Therapy Services at Merit Health Natchez.
About Merit Health Natchez
Merit Health Natchez is a Joint Commission-accredited hospital with 179-beds and offers a broad range of services including emergency medicine, surgery, cardiology, labor and delivery, radiology, outpatient diagnostic testing, physical therapy and more. Merit Health Natchez holds additional accreditations from the American College of Radiology for mammography, the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation and the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities.
About Alcorn State University
Alcorn State University is a premier comprehensive land-grant university that develops diverse students into globally competitive leaders, and applies scientific research through collaborative partnerships that benefit the surrounding communities, state, nation, and world. For more information about Alcorn, visit www.Alcorn.edu.
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