University Hospitals, MAC Expand Partnership With Medical Observer Program
CLEVELAND, Ohio – During the 2017 Football Season the Mid-American Conference and University Hospitals expanded their partnership by teaming up in an unprecedented Independent Medical Observer Program. University Hospitals assisted the MAC in vetting spotters submitted by each institution, provided training and certifications to spotters and was an “emergency backup” if an institution’s approved spotter was unable to work the game.
“The MAC’s Independent Medical Observer Program is another step in conference’s commitment to the safety and well-being of our student-athletes,” said MAC Deputy Commissioner/COO Bob Gennarelli. “We take pride in being the only Non-Autonomous FBS conference to implement this additional layer of protection at the conference level.”
Training for the program began in early August where video clips of plays of interest that could arise to the level of stoppage were provided to the observers. During the season, observers provided game reports to the MAC office within 48 hours following a game. A MAC Game Report Form was provided to all observers.
Each MAC institution submitted a list of 2-3 independent observers for their home football games that meet the following criteria:
- Must be licensed athletic trainer in the state in which they will be working.
- Cannot be currently employed by the institution at which they will be serving as observer.
- Must have demonstrable experience providing football coverage at the high school, college, or professional level.
- Must be within driving distance of the institution at which they will be serving as observer
"By placing a licensed athletic trainer in the press box, it provides an additional set of eyes on the playing field to help see the 'not so obvious,' non-orthopedic injuries such as concussions that can often be missed by the trainers and medical staff on the sideline,” said Sean Cupp, MD, Co-Director, Sports Medicine at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and Lead Medical Physician, Cleveland Browns. "These injuries are often not immediately reported by players themselves but can be damaging and even fatal if players try to continue play without immediate evaluation. This is a layer of protection that we use at the NFL level and college athletes deserve to compete under the same safety and medical supervision."
As part of the expanded coverage, UH and the MAC have also extended their partnership for the next five years as the official health care partner of the MAC. As the official health care partner of the MAC, University Hospitals will provide a complete team of physician specialists covering the MAC’s championship health care needs.
During the partnership UH will provide medical counsel and coverage for students at all of the 23 sponsored MAC tournament championships. In total, the agreement will provide over 5,000 students medical care under UH. The innovative partnership was brokered by IMG, the MAC’s multi-media rights partner.
Additionally with this partnership, UH is involved with the Mid-American Conference Student Well-Being Committee that will studies and researched mental health and other student welfare issues.
Mid-American Conference
Founded in 1946, the Mid-American Conference is an NCAA Division I, 12-member conference that sponsors 23 championships and is one of ten members of the Football Bowl Subdivison (FBS). With total enrollment of nearly 300,000 students, the league represents institutions of higher learning in five (5) states - Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York, and Ohio.
Current MAC schools that hold full membership and the year they joined are -- East Division: University of Akron (1992), Bowling Green State University (1952), University at Buffalo (1998), Kent State University (1951), Miami University (1947), Ohio University (1946). West Division: Ball State University (1973), Central Michigan University (1971), Eastern Michigan University (1971), Northern Illinois University (1975-86, rejoined in 1997), University of Toledo (1950), Western Michigan University (1947). The conference office is based in Cleveland, Ohio.
About University Hospitals / Cleveland, Ohio
Founded in 1866, University Hospitals serves the needs of patients through an integrated network of 18 hospitals, more than 40 outpatient health centers and 200 physician offices in 15 counties throughout northern Ohio. The system’s flagship academic medical center, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, located on a 35-acre campus in Cleveland’s University Circle, is affiliated with Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. The main campus also includes University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, ranked among the top children’s hospitals in the nation; University Hospitals MacDonald Women's Hospital, Ohio's only hospital for women; and University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, part of the NCI-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. UH is home to some of the most prestigious clinical and research programs in the nation, including cancer, pediatrics, women's health, orthopedics, radiology, neuroscience, cardiology and cardiovascular surgery, digestive health, transplantation and urology. UH Cleveland Medical Center is perennially among the highest performers in national ranking surveys, including “America’s Best Hospitals” from U.S. News & World Report. UH is also home to Harrington Discovery Institute at University Hospitals – part of The Harrington Project for Discovery & Development. UH is one of the largest employers in Northeast Ohio with 27,000 employees. For more information, go to uhhospitals.org.
