Beacon Orthopaedics Joins Premier Health-Mason School Partnership
School District Gains Strength Coach, Will Have Orthopedic Specialist Present at Games
MASON, Ohio (December 13, 2017) – Mason City Schools will gain a strength coach and have a sub-specialized orthopedic physician on the sidelines as part of amended school partnership agreements, one of which was approved Tuesday by the school district’s board. With total enrollment of more than 10,000 students, the impact of this new partnership for Mason City Schools will be far-reaching.
As part of the new arrangement, Premier Health and Beacon Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine will increase their support of the school district, splitting the costs. Coverage and educational responsibilities will also be shared, to ensure more comprehensive care for student athletes.
Tim Linker, M.D., sports medicine medical director for Atrium Medical Center, will work closely with all physicians providing coverage. Dr. Andrew Razzano of Beacon Orthopedics and Sports Medicine will serve as lead physician for Mason City Schools. Dr. Peter Cha, president of Beacon Orthopaedics, and Dr. Timothy Kremchek, a founding partner of the practice, will both serve as team physicians and will collaborate with specialists at Premier Orthopedics under Dr. Linker’s direction to provide coverage.
“Mason City Schools and Premier Health have enjoyed a visionary and collaborative relationship that has only deepened over the last 13 years,” said Tracey Carson, Public Information Office of Mason City Schools. “Our organizations first partnered in 2004 to increase mentoring and shadowing opportunities for students, and the hospital provided the high school with a full-time athletic trainer. In 2008, our organizations expanded our historic partnership by having the hospital fund the turf on Dwire Field at Atrium Stadium, and the health group paying for a 10,000-square-foot locker room and the two-story health center that offers a covered stadium entry, locker room space, and trainer office. Today’s agreement is the next chapter in this powerful partnership. We are very grateful to add another powerful partner, Beacon Orthopedics, who will help deepen Premier Health’s commitment to our students’ health and wellness.”
“Premier Health’s mission is to improve the health of the communities we serve, in many cases by working with others who believe in that goal, including Beacon Orthopaedics,” said Gary Blake, Premier Health’s vice president of service integration for orthopedics and sports medicine. “We are honored to be entrusted with the care of Mason City Schools’ student athletes. Our health system treats more student athletes than any other health system in Southwest Ohio, and we’re grateful that Mason school leaders will continue to rely on the expertise of Atrium Medical Center’s medical staff and athletic trainers far into the future.”
“Caring for the 69 athletic teams at Mason City Schools is an honor,” said Razzano, the new medical director for Mason. “We are excited to improve the focus on injury prevention, as well as provide instant comprehensive care for any injured athletes. At both Beacon and Premier, we emphasize education, technique, and proper conditioning to keep athletes competing instead of recovering. We are excited about what this new agreement means for our local student athletes.”
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