Keweenaw Report Your Source for Local News and Sports
Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center (UGL) provided free sports screenings to six area schools in Houghton County on Thursday, June 11, 2015, at their local clinic offices. 
Close to 400 students from area schools participated in this annual free sports screening. Houghton Portage Township Schools’ athletic director, Bruce Horsch, said the sports screenings have been offered to students well over twenty years. When UGL partnered with UP Health System – Portage in 2013, the tradition continued. This year, Houghton Portage Townships Schools, Dollar Bay/Tamarack City Area Schools, Jeffers High School, Hancock Public Schools, Stanton Township Schools and Chassell Township Schools participated.
“The sports screenings is a community service event,” said Shannon Richter, RN, BSN, UGL Senior Director of Operations. “Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center and UP Health System – Portage, and their primary care providers donate both their time and space for this event.”
Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) requires an annual pre-participationscreening prior to a student participating in athletic tryouts, practices or competitions. This screening must take place after April 15th of the previous school year and be on file at the student’s school. Failure to comply can cause a student’s team to forfeit.
The free sports screening event is designed to assist families who might have financial difficulty paying for the screening or coordinating the screening with their annual well child visit. It simply makes it easier for families to get the required screening. Richter said, “A lot of schools coordinate this day to make it easier for parents.”
“The free screenings are very important,” said Horsch. “We have a lot of different financial situations with our families, and the free screenings make everything easier.”
Thursday was the only day this year the sports screening are being provided for free and it is only available at the location and during the time the student’s school scheduled. If a student is unable to make it during their school’s time slot, the student should call their primary care provider to schedule a well visit. Most insurance companies will cover one pediatric well child visit each year, check with your specific plan for coverage details.
Richter said, it is important to note that the sports screening is not designed to replace a student’s annual well child exam. Annual well child exams should be scheduled with the student’s primary care provider at least once a year. The sports screening is a good supplement. If any concerns about a student’s health that arise from the sports screening are referred to the student’s primary care provider for additional follow-up.
