KINGSFORD HIGH SCHOOL and Dickinson County Healthcare System have signed a new three-year extension on a commitment to sports medicine services at Breitung Township Schools. From left are Al Unger, Kingsford High School assistant principal; Sarah Stanek, DCHS sports medicine physical therapist; Dave Holmes, Kingsford High School principal; Chris Hartman, Kingsford High School athletic director; Dr. Sarah Venditti, DCHS sports medicine orthopedic surgeon; Lane Lindeman, DCHS sports medicine orthopedic physician assistant; Morgan Schmidt, DCHS athletic trainer; Marcus Smithson, DCHS manager of sports medicine; and Vanessa Mitchell-DCHS concussion physician assistant.

KINGSFORD — Dickinson County Healthcare System and Breitung Township Schools have extended their decade-long sports medicine partnership three more years through 2022.

Through this partnership, physicians and athletic training therapists from the DCHS orthopedic and physical therapy team will meet general sports medicine needs and issues that arise for athletes, including initial injury evaluations and treatments.

Trained DCHS staff will be on hand at Kingsford Flivver athletic practices and events to evaluate injuries and ensure the safety of players on both teams, using advanced, evidence-based treatment techniques, protocols and technology.

Each rehabilitation program is designed to meet the needs of the individual and provides sport-specific attention to help the athlete recover and perform at the highest level. Trainers will be available both within the clinic and school settings.

They also will provide physician referrals when appropriate, make return-to-play decisions and provide education to athletes, parents and coaches on sports medicine-related issues, including injury prevention.

“The team at Dickinson County Healthcare’s primary goal is to provide the highest level of care to all athletes,” said Marcus Smithson, orthopedic director at DCHS. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Breitung Township Schools, the excellent coaching staff and especially the student athletes we serve.”

“We are proud to continue our relationship with the team at Dickinson County Healthcare System,” said Dave Holmes, Kingsford High School principal. “Our goal is to keep kids safe on and off the field and we’re excited to have their expertise to help achieve that together.”

Available educational resources include content that coaches, parents and students can use to prevent the most common injuries; recognize and treat concussion; understand the role that proper stretching, hydration and nutrition play in keeping student athletes healthy; and determine when a student has fully recovered and is safe to return to play.