Medical Information - VILLANOVA OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE

Medical Information

Villanova University Student Handbook

The drug and alcohol program has been established to assist the student-athlete in making choices. It is also designed to identify those who may have problems or concerns in these areas and direct them to help. The major portion of the program is education. Each team is scheduled for an interactive presentation with Michael Green, a drug and alcohol counselor. Open and frank discussions are encouraged.

Another facet of the drug and alcohol program is testing for the use of controlled substances. All student-athletes are randomly tested throughout the academic year. In addition, the football, baseball and track teams are tested by the NCAA without advance notice. This procedure is in addition to drug testing in conjunction with competition in an NCAA Championship.

Please refer to the Drug Testing Handbook for further information which is distributed to each athlete at the beginning of each season. Additional copies are available in Sports Medicine.

Insurance Coverage and Procedures

Villanova University may assume responsibility for the payment of all medical expenses incurred as a result of your participation in intercollegiate athletics. However, the insurance carrier and the University cannot accept the responsibility or expense for a pre-existing injury. Coverage provided by the Department is in compliance with the guidelines issued by the NCAA. Department insurance covers the difference between the total cost of the approved medical treatment and the benefits paid by you or your parents' personal medical insurance coverage. You must fill out and submit a Villanova University Insurance Questionnaire annually. All insurance claims should be submitted to the Athletics Business Manager's Office.

University policy dictates that you must have hospitalization and accident coverage through a family policy, or purchase coverage through the University's Student Health Service. This personal coverage is used as the primary carrier for expenses which are not reimbursed under the Department's insurance program. It also serves as a secondary carrier for all expenses covered by the Department. The maximum medical expense coverage amount is $100,000, and the accidental death or dismemberment coverage amount is $100,000.

An Insurance Questionnaire must be on file in the Athletics Business Office before the start of the season.

When a sports related injury occurs, the student-athlete must go to Sports Medicine to report the injury within one week of occurrence and file a claim form with the Athletic Trainer.

When the student-athlete is sent to the hospital, doctor, MRI, etc., the student must present his/her parent/guardian insurance information. The parent/ guardian's insurance is the primary insurance company. When the student-athlete is sent to any off-campus medical care, they must take a copy of their claim form with them.

All bills relating to the student-athlete's injury must be submitted to the Parent/Guardian Insurance Company first.

Once the parent/guardian's insurance company pays/denies the bills, the student should bring the Explanation of Benefits from their insurance company and bills relating to their injury to the Director of Sports Medicine.**

The Department of Sports Medicine will then submit all information regarding the student-athlete's claim to Villanova's insurance company for processing.

** INSURED PERSONS WHO RECEIVE DIRECT REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE CARRIER ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT OF ALL BILLS COVERED BY THE INSURER.

Sports Medicine

Sports Medicine is the treatment and rehabilitation center for the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Treatments are administered only upon the Team Physician's or Staff Trainer's approval. All treatments are performed until the medical or training staff determines that no further treatment is required.

Schedule

The following schedule is in effect for the academic year: Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Weekends by appointment only.

Medical Care

The Villanova University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has obtained the services of the best medical consultants. The Team Physicians and full-time Athletic Trainers are prepared to provide appropriate health care.

Physical Examinations

The Department requires all incoming Freshmen and returning student-athletes to undergo a physical evaluation and examination. The Head Coach is responsible for ensuring that appropriate procedures are performed, documented, reviewed and filed with Sports Medicine before the first practice session. The examinations are performed by the Team Physicians with the assistance of the Athletic Training Staff. During this time, general health is evaluated and a medical history is compiled and reviewed. This is done to assure that there is no medical condition that would endanger the health of a student-athlete through sports participation.

Treatment of Illness and Injury

All injuries or illnesses that might interfere with the ability to attend classes, practice, or compete are to be reported to the staff trainer as soon as possible. If you do not see the trainer, you will be considered healthy and expected to participate. You should see a Staff Trainer in Sports Medicine as soon as possible for any illness. At that time, an evaluation is made to determine the extent of your disability and your ability to practice or compete that day. If necessary, an outside medical referral is made at this time. The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics does not assume any financial responsibility for medical treatment obtained without a referral from the Athletic Trainer and/or Team Physician.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy will be viewed as an illness and will be treated as such. The NCAA will approve a one-year extension of the five-year period of eligibility for a female student-athlete for reasons of pregnancy. Pregnancy is not a basis for withdrawal of athletic financial aid.

The Villanova University community has a support network to assist in every aspect of a pregnant student-athlete's needs: counseling, accommodation in course load and scheduling, alternate educational and housing opportunities, medical and financial assistance, career planning, and parenting or adoption information. The University makes every effort to provide any student-athlete who becomes pregnant with a supportive environment intended to assure caring, non-judgmental, professional assistance to the woman herself and to others affected by the pregnancy who may wish such assistance.

When a Villanova student-athlete faces an unexpected pregnancy, she has several options. She may continue her studies at Villanova, if she is a resident student-athlete, she may continue to live in her residence hall. If she prefers not to remain on campus or in her current housing situation, the University will help her find alternate housing with a family who will offer their emotional support, if she so wishes. A student may also take a leave of absence from school, without any penalty, if she prefers or needs to do so.

In addition to the support network within our campus community, Villanova is also a participant in the Nurturing Network, a national organization that is especially helpful in assisting college and professional women experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. Through this organization, a Villanova woman has the option of transferring to another college of comparable excellence during her pregnancy. The Nurturing Network offers her support services including assistance with housing, medical care, and counseling.

A Villanova student-athlete who elects to stay at Villanova during her pregnancy has the full support of the Villanova community. Villanova is committed to life and to making the choice of life viable for our student-athletes.

If you are faced with an unplanned pregnancy and need help or simply need someone to talk with, there are many people here for you. Please feel welcome to contact any of the following at Villanova:

Tom DeMarco, Assistant to the Dean of Students	519-4200
Paul Pugh, Dean of Students	519-4200
Campus Ministry	519-4080
Counseling Center	519-4050
Residence Life Staff (RA's, Area Coordinators, etc)	519-4155
Student Health Center	519-4070

Other available outside sources are the Nurturing Network: 1-800-TNN-4MOM (24/hour) and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia pregnancy assistance 24-hour hotline: 1-800-CARE-002.

Emergency Treatment

If Sports Medicine is closed and emergency treatment is required, immediately contact Public Safety for referral to the Infirmary or Bryn Mawr Hospital. Follow-up arrangements will be made by the Staff Trainer as soon as he/she is notified. Again, keep in mind that unless you are referred for treatment by the Training Staff, the Department will not assume financial responsibility for medical expenses.

You must notify the Staff Athletics Trainer within 24 hours of the emergency service provided. All prescribed procedures issued by the attending physician must be followed in order for the University to be responsible for the resulting charges

Reporting for Treatment and Rehabilitation

If treatment and rehabilitation are ordered for you, the Athletic Training Staff arranges a time which is compatible with your schedule. Generally, treatments are scheduled ONLY between 7:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. and after practice. As these programs are developed especially for your benefit, you are expected to keep all treatment appointments and actively participate in your rehabilitation program. "No-shows" will not be tolerated.

Prescription Medications

The Athletics Department may also be responsible for payment of medication as prescribed by the Team Physicians providing the reason is within the guidelines set forth by the NCAA. In order for the prescription to be filled, you must present the prescription note to a Staff Athletic Trainer for stamp verification and filled by CVS Pharmacy in Wayne. We will allow as a permissible expense any prescription medication required as a result of an injury or illness during the academic year.

PLEASE CONSULT THE STUDENT-ATHLETE MEDICAL POLICY AND PROCEDURE HANDBOOK OR THE ATHLETICS TRAINING STAFF FOR MORE INFORMATION