Athletic Training and
 Sports Medicine Newsletter


January 2011


I hope you enjoy this issue of the Walters Inc. Newsletter. This is our attempt to provide news and issues germane to Sports Medicine, specifically the domain of Athletic Training.

In This Issue
Cost Containment
Blog
Welcome Athletic Department Solution
Videos
2011 Schedule
2011 Schedule

Quick Links
www.rodwalters.com

Cost Containment Blog
 

College administrators are facing challenges dealing with Health Care Cost Containment.  Our administration is facing unbelievable challenges as we move forward.  As you review your benefits, we see increases in deductibles and the insured person's financial responsibility for their portion of insurance.  Further, there are decreasing benefits . . . all pointing to increased health care costs.  The challenge for college administrators continues to be:  find ways to cover the claims primary insurance does not. Those student-athletes with no insurance, must be dealt with.

No longer is it prudent to accept (as college administrators or departments) a simple percentage discount off of medical charges.  Insurance companies reap significant discounts for services; and it is prudent for Athletic Departments to obtain such discounts for student-athletes.  This standard of care must be done to stay on the cutting edge of providing services today.

Finally, today's health care reform has no provisions for cost containment or the rising cost of health care to the insured.  This rising cost is facing college administrators as they must deal with the portion of care that is not covered.  Based on the literature and recent trends; it seems prudent that out-of-pocket medical costs which have been covered by college athletic departments could increase three-fold in the coming years.  Yes, three-fold.  It is theorized an institution with out-of-pocket health care costs of $300,000 will approach $1 million in the next couple of years!

In closing, failing to plan is planning to fail.

 

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Meet Our
2011 ATEO Sponsors!

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BLOG Topics

Blogs certainly offer us the chance to express our opinions - these are some topics you might find interesting . . .
 
  • Cost Containment in College Athletic
  • Knee Bracing in Sports
  • History of Knee Braces in Sports
  • Concussions
  • Electronic Medical Records
Check it out at http://blog.rodwalters.com


2011 Sponsors

We are close to finalizing all our sponsors for the 2011 ATEO Campaign.  You can find the target cities for 2011 above.  The specific dates for each city will be finalized by January.

Also, we will have a detailed ad in the NATA News again this year highlighting both our great sponsors and the schedule.

Thank you for your support of our sponsors - there is no way we can provide our series of seminars complete with seven CEUs, lunch -- all at no cost to your the attendees.

Welcome New Partner

We are happy to announce "Athletic Department Services" has joined us as a sponsor.

Who is Athletic Department Solutions - Founded at a single location in Dallas, Texas in 1964 as a TPA and Brokerage services; ADS has grown into one of the largest Employer Services Organizations in the US with offices in 7 states, over 4,000 clients and 400,000 worksite employees.  Services have evolved from our early roots to include Administrative Services Outsourcing, Human Resource Support, and HRMS technology. ADS staff of professionals includes former collegiate and professional athletes that are all familiar with the internal workings of university athletic departments. 


ADS SOLUTION - ADS experience has helped develop a turnkey medical solution that allows all Colleges/Universities handle all of these issues using a secure web-based platform. The burden of handling all of the administrative is shifted away from the training staff or Business office. In return we cut cost and generate revenue for the school without asking the school to change the way they currently operate. Below are the issues we can handle and streamline your entire workflow process.
 

  • Filing of all claims for Student/Athlete with limited involvement of the College/University. (If you have a current broker GREAT, we will work with them. If you need one, ADS will direct you to our preferred vendor Summit America).
  • ADS will Generate Revenue for the athletic department by billing for services currently being performed in the training room (Physician Extender Model).
  • Risk Management - Help the University with compliance on Federal, State, Local and NCAA rules.
  • Provide a Web Portal  for Student-Athletes and parent/guardian to view claim information.
  • Seamless Sharing of Information between Medical Staff, Student-Athlete and Athletic Training Staff.
  • Provide ability to pull Reports or have Scheduled Reports delivered to help streamline the Compliance/Accounting process.
  • Single Entry Database System - you only have one entry into one system. No more duplicate entry of same information.
  • Reduction of Administrative Work by training Staff, which insures better controls with HIPPA and better care of Student-Athletes.
  • Provide self contained Injury Tracking Software with Voice Dictation of SOAP Notes.
  • Virtual Student/Athletes File Cabinet for Medical and any other information.
  • ADS provides Wholesale Prescription Discount Program (26% off of AWP).
  • Guardian Dental and Vision solutions to Reduce costs associated with these types of claims.
  • Multiple Levels of Security and visibility no matter how many sports, Athletes and Coaches/Administrator. HIPAA, ERISA, and FERPA compliant.
     

Call ADS today to for an overview of our Comprehensive Student/Athlete Medical Solution.
 

(972) 687-1877

(800) 872-9934

Healthy Learning Videos featuring Rod Walters

We have had inquiries about videos and the following five are available from Health Learning videos.  For more information or to purchase, click on the links below:

Athletic Training Educational Seminar - this video includes the content of the seminar conducted annually.

Bacterial Infections and Their Implications for Athletic Facilities is a video highlighting the problem and challenges of staph infections in the athletic arena. 

Managing the Critically Injured Spine Athlete is an excellent management tool for review of specific protocols or as an educational adjunct.  Rod Walters references his experiences in dealing with the spine injured student-athlete.

Preparing for On-the-Field Emergencies is an excellent resource for coaches, administrators or Athletic Trainers to formulate Emergency Action Plans.

Preventing Environmental Heat Illness is an excellent video outlining procedures use by Rod Walters in caring for student-athletes engaging in physical activity.

2011 ATEO Sites
 

  • Birmingham, AL
  • Boston, MA
  • Columbia, SC
  • Memphis, TN
  • Meridian, MS
  • Indianapolis, IN
  • Los Angeles/Anaheim, CA
  • Phoenix, AZ
  • Raleigh, NC
  • Tampa, FL
  • Towson, MD
     

click here to register
 

2011 ATEO Program
 

We have listened to you the attendees, and have "tweaked" the 2011 ATEO events to topics you wanted!  The  new content includes a talk on "Integration of Technology" and some discussion specific to Health Care Administration which is a challenge for the high school, college, or professional Athletic Trainers.  The topic list includes:
 
 
  • Technology and Sports Medicine - Tools To Help Us Complete Our Job
  • Drug Testing Issues and Challenges
  • Cost Containment Challenges - Physician Extender Concepts
  • AEDs and the Emergency Action Plan
  • Germs and Microbes Challenging the Athletics Trainer
  • Bracing of Ankle and Knee
  • Soft Casting in Sports Medicine
  • Taping