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The 2008 program will perform over 1200 physicals on the PhiladelphiaPublic, Charter and Parochial school athletes. The 200+ all-volunteer staff ofdoctors and nurses will review each athlete with the assistance of medicalstudents from PCOM. The physicals are very thorough and consist of:prescreening and close review of medical history, general physical,Orthopedics, pulmonary review including a pulmonary function test (PFT), aswell as an electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG) and if necessary an echocardiogram,which identify a number of life-threatening cardiac conditions that would nothave been discovered in a standard sports physical. Each screening will takeapproximately 30 minutes per athlete.
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"I don't want to see any child die from participating in interscholasticathletics," said Dr. Jerry Steingard, founder of the PPSA. "Many of thestudents that will receive our physicals do not have proper health insurancefor proper physicals, and may not have had the opportunity to have seriousmedical conditions identified. I want to make that opportunity available toall students."
The School District Of Philadelphia supports the efforts of the PPSA, "TheSchool District Of Philadelphia, its Athletic Directors, Coaches and I areextremely grateful to the PPSA and Dr. Steingard for organizing such animportant medical service to our athletes. The physicals provided go aboveand beyond a normal sports physical and is a monumental step toward keepingour athletes safe and healthy at play, school and home," said Robert Coleman,Director of Athletics for the School District Of Philadelphia.
"We would not be able to offer this service to the athletes without thetremendous support from the medical community, especially from; ThePhiladelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, The Sports Medicine andPerformance Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, RoxboroughMemorial Hospital and Methodist Hospital. In addition, the Ed Snider YouthHockey Foundation and Comcast Spectacor have donated the use of the Spectrumfor the event. I can't forget Tony Lukes who supplied all the food andrefreshment for the volunteers," said Steingard.For more information contact: Brian Roman AdMark Network Inc. 525 Beaver Road Glenside, PA 19038 215-514-0999 [email protected] PHOTOS AVAILABLE
SOURCE Philadelphia Physicians for Student Athletics
