A partnership between Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) and Ministry Health Care recently provided a unique medical screening opportunity for Special Olympics Athletes.
The third annual MedFest was held in December in conjunction with the Northern Fall Sports Tournament in Wausau.
MedFest is a Special Olympics Healthy Athletes™ screening program that facilitates the required standard sports physical examination for current and prospective Special Olympics athletes. The physical examinations are conducted by volunteer medical professionals and are free to current and prospective athletes.
A team of more than 40-medical volunteers from Ministry Medical Group Clinic’s in Weston, Merrill and Stevens Point as well as Ministry Saint Clare’s Hospital in Weston, Ministry Saint Michael’s Hospital in Stevens Point and Ministry SAINTS Health Services for Business provided the free exams.
These exams included: registration and assessments of medical history; height and weight measurements; blood pressure; heart, lung, abdominal and musculoskeletal evaluation; and referral for follow-up care as needed. Of the 42 athletes who received free physicals, 23 were flagged as needing a follow-up appointment, most due to high blood pressure.
“We were happy to provide this opportunity for these athletes and their families,” said Michael Clark, M.D., director of Emergency Medical Services at Ministry Saint Clare’s and state medical director for SOWI. “We are already in the planning stages for MedFest to return to Wausau for the 2012 Northern Fall Sports Tournament which will be held in December.”
A member of the Ministry Health Care system sponsored by the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother, Ministry Saint Clare’s Hospital is a 110-bed all-digital provider of quality, compassionate care offering a wide range of primary and specialty care at the Weston Regional Medical Center. The mission of Ministry Health Care is to further the healing ministry of Jesus by continually improving the health and well-being of all people, especially the poor.