Very important athlete program
Our Very Important Athlete program provides student athletes in Greater San Antonio access to expedited medical care, licensed athletic trainers and dedicated specialists.
Methodist Healthcare’s Very Important Athlete (VIA) is designed to quickly assist an injured athlete in getting to the appropriate next point of care, whether that’s the emergency room, urgent care or a follow up with a physician. The VIA program is available to all schools and student athletes in the greater San Antonio area.
How’s the VIA Program work?
When an athlete is injured during a sporting event, the athletic trainer on site will evaluate the injury and then place an immediate phone call to the Methodist Healthcare Specialized Call Center. The call center/transfer center representative instructs the athletic trainer on site as to which Methodist Healthcare facility the injured athlete should be directed, expediting the entire admittance process for those athletes requiring emergency care.
Why the VIA Program?
The VIA program provides schools and athletes a variety of benefits:
- Shorter wait times for trips to the ER
- Expedited service
- Dedicated specialists
- Coordinated care after an ER visit
What is an athletic trainer?
Athletic Trainers (AT’s) are highly qualified, multi-skilled health care professionals who work with the sports medicine team to provide care for student athletes throughout the Great San Antonio area. AT’s are skilled in assessing and treating injuries, injury/illness prevention, immediate and emergency care, and rehabilitation protocols. Athletic Trainers work alongside team sports physicians to provide all around quality care for their athletes.
About our athletic trainers
Our Athletic Trainers (AT’s) are all required to have a either a Bachelors Degree or Master’s Degree in addition to a Texas State Licensure and many are nationally certified by the Board of Certification. Our Methodist Healthcare Athletic Trainers are experts in their field across a variety of content including:
- Emergency and acute care for injuries and illnesses
- Clinical examination
- Evidence-based practice
- Health care administration
- Prevention and health promotion
- Psychosocial strategies and referrals
- Therapeutic interventions
Where our athletic trainers work
- Primary and secondary schools
- Intercollegiate athletics
- Professional sports
- Club sports
- Sports performance facilities
- Sports medicine clinics
- Hospital Emergency Rooms
- Law enforcement and military
- Occupational and industrial settings
- Performing arts
- Physician offices
COVID-19 and our athletic trainers
Our Athletic Trainers are a great resource when you have questions about COVID-19 and all the different pre-caution recommendations that must be followed with sports. Every athletic trainer on our team is committed to keeping athletes, staff and others involved in supporting sporting events safe. Your Athletic Trainer is always connected to Methodist Healthcare providers to ensure they are up to date on all safety precautions.
Athletic trainers in your area
Smithson Valley High School
Alamo Heights High School