ORLANDO – UCF Athletics and Orlando Health have combined for a transformational long-term partnership that delivers all the resources of the area's most comprehensive healthcare network for the Knights' athletic teams and student-athletes--designating Orlando Health as the official medical provider for UCF Athletics.
In addition, Orlando Health personnel, resources and medical expertise have been devoted to UCF Athletics since the onset of COVID-19--particularly in crafting strategy for dealing with realities of the virus once UCF student-athletes began returning to campus in June.
Physicians at Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute now coordinate all care for UCF student-athletes through the Orlando Health network of complete medical services. UCF student-athletes have access to comprehensive, world-class medical care, including emergency care, primary care, pulmonology, spine specialists, neurologists, cardiologists, physical therapists, athletic trainers and more.
Under the agreement, which took effect this year, Orlando Health provides medical care for the 500 student-athletes competing in 16 sports under UCF Athletics. The partnership also provides exceptional exposure for Orlando Health through UCF Athletics.
"UCF Athletics already has benefited tremendously, and in a variety of ways, from this partnership during this unique COVID-19 pandemic," says UCF vice president and director of athletics Danny White. "In addition to providing its mobile testing facilities and associated personnel to our athletic village on nearly a daily basis, the Orlando Health specialists, including those with expertise in infectious diseases, have been consulting every day to help create our ongoing strategy for confronting the virus.
"We are making critical decisions every day that impact the health and well-being of our student-athletes, and the Orlando Health staff is right here to help guide us every step of the way. Our comprehensive efforts to attack and deal with the realities of COVID as our teams train and compete could not happen without Orlando Health."
Orlando Health experts have been assisting UCF Athletics since April in the development of multiple, extensive steps to ensure the health of student-athletes, staff and fans
- Coronavirus testing for student-athletes, coaches and athletic staff
- Development of a testing algorithm
- COVID-19 positive case management
- Safety assessments for UCF Athletics facilities, including all stadia, practice fields, locker rooms, strength and conditioning areas—and all other areas used by student-athletes
- Cleaning and disinfecting protocols
- Team meals protocols
- Planning and execution of COVID-19 preventative measures at all UCF athletic events
"This community has been energized with excitement by UCF Athletics, and in caring for CF student-athletes for many years, our team of specialists has had the pleasure of seeing that excitement up close," says Michael Jablonski, M.D., physician lead with Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute. "With our team of world-class orthopedic specialists at Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute, our leading sports medicine program, and the wide network of high-quality care we have to serve our community, there's no doubt in my mind we'll be able to continue building on the winning culture established here at UCF."
The specialists at Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute lead the physicians and athletic trainers caring for UCF student-athletes on the field during competition, in the training room and in Orlando Health clinics. Orlando Health also has hired a full-time physician to coordinate all primary care for UCF student-athletes.
"The Knights are Orlando's hometown team and in Orlando Health we have a partner who has been in this community for more than 100 years and is as committed to its well-being as we are," says White. "Having Orlando Health by our side absolutely helps our student-athletes succeed and continues the growth of our program and our University.
"We know our student-athletes and others associated with their programs already appreciate the breadth, professionalism and comprehensive nature of this valuable partnership. Anyone leaving a son or daughter in our charge can rest assured they are in extremely capable hands with Orlando Health and UCF Athletics."
About Orlando Health
Orlando Health, headquartered in Orlando, Florida, is a not-for-profit healthcare organization with $6.5 billion of assets under management that serves the southeastern United States.
Founded more than 100 years ago, the healthcare system is recognized around the world for its pediatric and adult Level One Trauma program, as well as the only state-accredited Level Two Adult and Pediatric Trauma Center in Pinellas County. It is the home of the nation's largest neonatal intensive care unit under one roof, the only system in the southeast to offer open fetal surgery to repair the most severe forms of spina bifida, the site of an Olympic athlete training facility and operator of one of the largest and highest performing clinically integrated networks in the region.
Orlando Health is a statutory teaching system that pioneers life-changing medical research. The 3,200-bed system includes 15 wholly-owned hospitals and emergency departments; rehabilitation services, cancer and heart institutes, imaging and laboratory services, wound care centers, physician offices for adults and pediatrics, skilled nursing facilities, an in-patient behavioral health facility, home healthcare services in partnership with LHC Group, and urgent care centers in partnership with CareSpot Urgent Care.
Nearly 4,200 physicians, representing more than 80 medical specialties and subspecialties have privileges across the Orlando Health system, which employs nearly 22,000 team members. In FY19, Orlando Health served nearly 150,000 inpatients and nearly 2.7 million outpatients. During that same time period, Orlando Health provided more than $760 million in total value to the communities it serves in the form of charity care, community benefit programs and services, community building activities and more.
Additional information can be found at http://www.orlandohealth.com.