'This is a center of excellence for sports medicine care'
Wilmington College’s Center for Sport Sciences with its four in-house medical offices was described as a patient-centered model of collaboration during a tour of the new facility Tuesday (Sept. 22) by state government officials and representatives of the medical industry.
(LEFT) Beacon CEO Glen Prasser shows the tour group around the common reception area for the four medical partners.
Tim Maglione, senior director for government relations, is a lobbyist and lawyer for the Ohio State Medical Association, which represents 15,000 physicians in Ohio.
“A lot of people here are doing a lot of good things for the benefit of the patient,” he said. “This is a center of excellence for sports medicine care. We’ll let people in the State House know about this.”
The College opened its $10.4 million, 41,000 square-foot center a month ago to rave reviews from students, community members and others among the 800 persons attending the Aug. 23 ribbon cutting ceremony and open house.
The Center is home to WC’s nationally prominent athletic training program and other sport sciences, and, with its 40-by-40-yard, indoor turf field and related athletics amenities, also accommodates training for essentially all of the College’s 20 varsity sports teams, in addition to giving students additional options for recreational activities.
What makes the facility so distinct is the presence of four commercial medical offices: Beacon Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Chiropractic Care of Cincinnati, CMH Regional Health System’s imaging and sports medicine center, and Drayer Physical Therapy Institute.
The onsite, sports medicine-related offices not only serve Wilmington College student-athletes but also provide medical and other health-related services for a significant portion of southwest Ohio. Furthermore, they afford the College’s athletic training students with opportunities for clinical experience.
Beacon CEO Glen Prasser hosted the tour group that included Ohio Sen. Bob Peterson (17th District) and Richard Hodges, director of the Ohio Dept.of Health.
Hodges spoke of how much has changed since he last visited the facility on what then was a frigid day in February when Gov. John Kasich gave the State-of-the-State address in Wilmington.
“This is the way healthcare is going,” he said about such collaborations as represented by the partners in the Center for Sport Sciences.
Prasser also marveled at the partnership, which began four years ago when Wilmington College secured Beacon as its medical provider. Beacon subsequently brought in Wilmington, Blanchester and Clinton-Massie high schools as clients, which also helped lead to the establishment of Beacon’s seventh clinic.
“This building is the story of a vision and dream,” he said. “It’s great to finally see this dream come true. Now you have a regional hospital, a sports medicine group, a large physical therapy institute and the chiropractic consultant for the Cincinnati Reds — and Wilmington College.”
Prasser noted that, at a time when many hospitals “are circling the wagons” and becoming more insular, CMH had a vision to partner with others and “focus on the patient.”
“Patients have choices and those options are here in Wilmington at Wilmington College,” he added.
He also mentioned WC’s athletic training program as a particularly “selfish” reason why Beacon was so excited to partner with the College. This academic area with its numerous applications for hands-on learning is among the state’s largest programs and possesses a national reputation.
WC President Jim Reynolds also spoke of how Wilmington students will benefit greatly by the presence of the medical partners, as not only does the center constitute a “one-stop shop” for the sports medicine needs of student-athletes, but also students in athletic training and others with interests in allied health professions can obtain clinical experience without leaving the campus.
“This is a remarkable opportunity for our students,” Reynolds said. “They can literally walk across the hall and get premium healthcare. The quality care here is cutting edge and first-rate.”