Injury and Evaluation Clinic Opens

A new Injury and Evaluation Care Clinic is open on campus. Julie Rochester (HPER) implemented the program. She had been approached repeatedly in recent years by people asking for a service in the health, physical education and recreation department where they could have their injured feet or aching knees evaluated.

“I realized there was kind of a void in the health care system on campus,” Rochester said.

At the clinic, athletic training students work under the supervision of Rochester and Amy LaBelle (HPER). They evaluate and assess patients with musculoskeletal injuries—sprains, strains, contusions—and also provide primary injury treatment, home exercise care plans, athletic taping and bracing, and information on physician care and physical therapy services related to sports injuries.

“I’m excited to see it is finally becoming a reality,” Rochester said. “I see this as a great benefit and a much needed service to the university.”

While NMU’s varsity athletes have their own athletic trainers to take care of sports-related injuries and problems, until now there was nothing comparable for NMU’s recreational and intramural teams, as well as individuals who like to exercise, Rochester said.

The Injury and Evaluation Care Clinic not only serves the campus community but more importantly NMU’s athletic training students. Those who work at the clinic are enrolled in clinical education courses or practicum courses that teach students how to apply what they learned in the classroom in the real world.

“Students will have the opportunity to refine their injury evaluation and assessment skills,” Rochester said. “They will also begin to gain confidence in developing a clinical impression and making medical referrals when necessary.”

The NMU Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) also uses off-campus sites such as Bell Medical, Marquette General Hospital, and U.P. Sports Medicine for the clinical education component of the program. 

“It was therefore very important for us, in the establishment of this clinic, to involve all of our affiliated sites,” Rochester said.

For instance, Dr. Richard Vermeulen serves as the clinic’s medical director and will see patients at an additional cost. In addition, the clinic provides patients with a variety of options if they need to be referred to specialists.

“We can refer people out to any of these clinics in town,” Rochester said.

The clinic is located in the PEIF room 239 and is open to full-time students, faculty and staff. It is free to students with NMU ID and $10 (assessed against the university health insurance) for faculty and staff. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call 227-2130.