Whittier College Sports Medicine

Training Room Staff:

Taryn Arvold (Head Trainer)

Tera Rolfe (Assistant Trainer)

Tanya Gjetley (Graduate Assistant)

The mission of the Whittier College Sports Medicine Department is to provide quality and efficient health care, the primary goal being the total health and well-being of all student-athletes.  Services include, but are not limited to prevention, evaluation, management, rehabilitation and reconditioning of athletic injuries.

Facility:

• The Sports Medicine Department is located on the 1^st floor of the Graham Athletic Center. Staff availability and limitations may vary dependent upon athletic team practice, competition, travel and the personal schedules of the sports medicine staff. We ask that all student-athletes/coaches respect the hours of operation and communicate any special needs to best accommodate their team/class schedule.
• Training Room Contact info:
  • (562) 907-4965 office
  • (562) 945-8024 fax
  • PoetSportsMedicine (Facebook)
  • tarvold@whittier.edu (Taryn Arvold, Head Athletic Trainer)
  • trolfe@whittier.edu (Tera Rolfe, Assistant Athletic Trainer)
• Training room hours
  • Mornings: By appointment only
  • Mon-Fri: 1 pm - 7 pm
  • Sat-Sun: Practice/Game/Appt. only

Sports Medicine Facility Rules:

• The Sports Medicine Department is not an excuse to be late for class, practice, meetings, etc. Remember lack of planning on your part, does not constitute an emergency on ours!
• Proper attire should be worn to accommodate injury evaluations, treatment, and rehabilitation. Remember this is a co-ed facility, dress appropriately.
• Please leave bags, equipment, etc. in your assigned locker. Avoid any unnecessary clutter. Any clothing that is left in the Athletic Training room overnight will be donated to charity.
• All athletes requiring an injury evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation must check in with a staff member for proper documentation. Please be patient until we are able to assist you.
• Always continue Treatment/Rehabilitation until directed otherwise by the Athletic Training Staff.
• Do not take any equipment or supplies from the Sports Medicine department without prior approval of a staff member. Any equipment issued to an athlete must be returned upon completion of its usage. Any equipment not returned may be billed to the student-athlete's account (i.e. braces, immobilizers, boots, crutches, etc).
• Always clean up after yourself: pick up used towels, tape, disinfect tables/equipment after use, dispose of trash, etc. Please respect our area!

Sports Medicine Personnel:

• The sports medicine staff consists of Team Physicians, the Head Athletic Trainer, 1 full-time Assistant Athletic Trainer, 1 Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer, and various consultants in the field of Sports Medicine. All athletic teams will be assigned an Athletic Trainer as their primary contact, however all athletic trainers are available to assist the student-athletes.
  • Any appointments for the Team Physicians weekly Wednesday clinical hours will be made through the Athletic Trainers, and any referrals to consulting physicians will be made by either the Team Physicians or the student-athletes Primary Care Physician.
  • Any medical treatment/care not approved by the Sports Medicine staff is the sole judgment and responsibility of the student-athlete. The student-athlete must produce all documentation of medical services received and will need to present this information to the Head Athletic Trainer prior to any treatment, rehabilitation, or participation in intercollegiate athletic activities at Whittier College.

Athletic Participation & Physicals:

• It is a requirement by the NCAA and the Whittier College Athletic Department that all student-athletes have a physical or medical appraisal performed annually. There are additional pre-participation medical forms that must be completed prior to athletic activity.
  • All incoming freshman and transfer student-athletes are REQUIRED to have an athletic physical examination by one of the Team Physicians or a member of his/her primary care physicians staff prior to any athletic participation in any intercollegiate sport.
• Immunizations need to be up to date prior to reporting to camp. Athletes should bring a copy of their immunization records to camp.
•  Understanding your Immunization Records (pdf)
• Returning student-athletes will be REQUIRED to have a medical appraisal performed by a member of the sports medicine staff prior to athletic participation in intercollegiate sports. The student-athlete must present a valid insurance card prior to or at the annual physical/health appraisal.
• ALL STUDENTS (RETURNING/NEW INCOMING) Must fill outPre-participation forms include an assumption of risk form, medical information waiver, release of record form, medical history form. This information can be found on the sports medicine link.
  
  •  NCAA is now suggesting all students be aware of their Sickle Cell Trait status. There is an information sheet with a form to either document trait status OR sign the waiver denying to be tested/provide documentation. ONE of the Sickle Cell forms MUST be completed prior to start of participation!!!
    • For more information on sickle cell trait
• The Team Physician will determine whether to permit a handicapped student-athlete to participate in intercollegiate athletics.
• The Team Physician will also determine whether a student-athlete is allowed to participate in team practices or athletic competitions after an illness or athletic injury.
  • In the absence of the Team Physician, the athletic trainer will make all such medical decisions.

Insurance:

• Primary Medical Insurance Policy
  • All student-athletes must have accident and injury insurance in order to participate in Intercollegiate Athletics.  If a student-athlete does not have insurance coverage, then they will be required to pick up the Whittier College insurance and the additional "Athletic Rider"
    • Whittier College has teamed up with Kaiser Permanente to service students with an insurance plan. 
      • All international students will be required to pick up the Whittier College Kaiser Permanente Insurance Policy
      • Information regarding this plan can be found at the Student Health & Wellness Center Website
    • All student-athletes must submit a front and back copy of their current insurance card to the Sports Medicine Department.
    • When a student-athlete has been cleared by the Athletic Training Department they will be added to the roster that is passed on to the Equipment Manager for issuance of equipment

• • All Whittier College students must visit www.srstudentcenter.com and verify their insurance information by filling out the insurance on-line waiver card (also available on Whittier College moodle)
    • By completing the waiver card you are stating that you have your own private primary insurance and you are waiving the right to the insurance policy provided by Whittier College through Kaiser Permanente. (If you are providing your own primary insurance, a copy of your card MUST be given to the Sports Medicine Department)

• Secondary Medical Insurance Policy
  • Whittier College has a self-insured retention (SIR) policy with Bob McCloskey Insurance (BMI).

• • • In the event your son/daughter sustains an injury which is eligible for secondary insurance coverage under the Whittier College policy, the following steps will occur:

1)       The Sports Medicine Dept. will file an injury report with BMI indicating a legitimate claim may be forthcoming

2)       You or your child will be responsible for submitting any bills to your primary insurance carrier if the medical provider does not do so.

3)       Once your primary insurance has fulfilled their portion the deductible must be paid by you or your child.

4)       Once the deductible has been met and all bills have been submitted, your insurance carrier will send you or your child an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) showing what has been paid to the medical provider. Please forward a copy of this EOB and any remaining balances on itemized bills to the attention of the Head Athletic Trainer in the Sports Medicine Department.

5)       These procedures must be followed as it is not the policy of the Athletic Department to reimburse any payments.   ***** If your primary insurance coverage is through an HMO/PPO, you must see a physician within your network or follow proper procedures required by your plan in order for your insurance and the College's insurance to satisfactorily complete its portion of the claim. Failure to follow the proper procedures may nullify benefits.

o   The NCAA does not permit Whittier College to provide coverage or pay bills incurred for expenses related to illness or conditions which are not sustained as a direct result of an accident in the intercollegiate athletic program. As a result, our secondary athletic accident insurance policy does not cover the following situations and/or circumstances:

i.  Athletic injuries or illnesses that are pre-existing

ii.  Chronic or Overuse injuries

iii. Medical illness such as Mononucleosis, Strep Throat, Influenza, etc.

iv. Athletic injuries that are not directly related to intercollegiate sport participation.

v. Athletic injuries not directly reported to the Sports Medicine Staff in a timely manner.

vi.  Second opinions by a medical professional that are not authorized by the Head Athletic Trainer.

Reporting Injuries or Illnesses:

• Any student-athlete that sustains an injury must immediately report the injury to an Athletic Trainer. 

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  • All medical referrals will be made by the Whittier College Sports Medicine personnel.
    • If an athlete fails to report an injury and seeks medical attention without reporting the injury to the sports medicine dept. then any expenses that accrue are the sole responsibility of that student-athlete.

• Injuries at Away Events (When WC Sports Medicine personnel are not available)
  • If a serious injury should occur to a student-athlete while on the road representing Whittier College, the Head Coach should obtain assistance from the Certified Athletic Trainer on site.  The Head Coach will also notify the Head Athletic Trainer at his/her earliest opportunity.

Drug Testing:

• Whittier College is a participant in the NCAA Division III Drug Testing Program.  At any time student-athletes may be required to report for such testing.