Four faculty members and 15 students from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing Kearney Division and UNMC College of Allied Health Professions in Kearney, are offering free sports physical exams for current and new athletes who plan to compete in the Special Olympics.
The free event, called West Central MedFest, is open to athletes from the Kearney, Grand Island and Hastings areas who plan to compete in the Special Olympics. The physicals allow athletes to be eligible to compete in the 19 different sports that Special Olympics Nebraska offers year-round. Competitions are held throughout the state for regional and state events. On Oct. 15, Kearney will host a Unified bowling competition at Big Apple lanes.
The physicals will take place Sept. 17, from 8 a.m. to noon in the Health Science Education Complex on the University of Nebraska-Kearney campus, 2402 University Drive. The building is equipped with exam rooms used in student education. The complex houses UNMC programs.
Students in the UNMC physician assistant program in Kearney and UNMC accelerated bachelor’s degree in nursing program in Kearney will participate in head-to-toe assessments which will include vision and hearing screening, vital signs, and education on things like healthy eating and stretching before activities.
“This is an opportunity that is a perfect fit for us,” said Janet Knisley, D.N.P., assistant clinical professor, who teaches in the accelerated bachelor’s degree in nursing program at the UNMC College of Nursing Kearney Division. “The clients we want to serve may not have access to care. If anything comes up in the physical, we’ll be able to refer them to local providers for help.”
She said students will benefit through the educational and service experience. Physician assistant faculty members, Sheila Williams and Mia Hyde, also will participate.
Pre-registration is encouraged. To pre-register, go to http://www.sone.org/programs. For more information, contact Alisa Hoffman, ahoffman@sone.org or 402-331-5545 extension 22.
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