Rogers-Lowell Area News

Northwest Health Offering Free Sports Physicals for NWA Middle and High School Athletes

Northwest Health is offering free sports physicals through June 15 for middle and high school students who are required to have a sports physical. Available at 10 Northwest Health locations throughout Northwest Arkansas, the screenings started on May 15, originally for Northwest Health’s official school partners, but have now been expanded.

Northwest Health already provides certified athletic trainers – at no cost – to nine high schools in the Bentonville, Elkins, Huntsville, Lincoln, Pea Ridge and Springdale school systems, and was providing those student-athletes with free physicals. With the expansion of services, now students at Fayetteville and Rogers school systems as well as private schools may participate.

Throughout the past several years, Northwest Health has demonstrated a significant commitment to Northwest Arkansas students. In 2017 and 2018, it provided free physicals through its clinics to more than 5,000 students for the Bentonville, Pea Ridge and Springdale school districts. In 2019, with the partnership of Northwest Health Physicians’ Specialty Hospital and independent practitioners at Advanced Orthopaedic Specialists, 1,000 free physicals have already been provided in both Springdale and Springdale Har-Ber high schools. Additionally, Northwest Health Physicians’ Specialty Hospital also serves as the official medical provider for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks.

“Northwest Health is committed to making sure our local students are able to participate safely in athletics,” said Denten Park, Market CEO for Northwest Health. “Through our sports medicine program, we partner with coaches to help prevent injuries as well as providing timely treatment and helping people recover from injury or illness. We look forward to both continuing and expanding our existing partnerships with schools throughout Northwest Arkansas. These services for middle and high school students – as well as the care we provide for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks through Northwest Health Physicians’ Specialty Hospital – represent at least a million dollar investment in our community.”

Appointments for the free sports physicals are not required. Below is a list of the ten locations, which can also be found with addresses, phone numbers and hours of operation at NorthwestHealth.com/sports-medicine. Waiver forms, which must be signed by a parent or guardian for athletes under age 18, are also accessible on the web page.

• Bentonville: Northwest Medical Plaza – Bentonville and Northwest Medical Plaza at Sugar Creek
• Centerton: Northwest Primary Care – Centerton and Northwest Family Medicine – Centerton
• Fayetteville: Northwest Medical Plaza – Wedington
• Lowell: Northwest Family Medicine – Lowell
• Rogers: Northwest Medical Plaza at Pinnacle and Northwest Family Medicine – Tuscany Square
• Springdale: Northwest Medical Plaza – Springdale and Northwest Medical Plaza – Eastside

“Sports physicals are an invaluable resource for school athletics programs,” said Rob Phillips, Director of Sports Medicine and Outpatient Rehab Services for Northwest Health. “These screenings help to ensure that our student-athletes are performing in their chosen sports with the utmost safety. This is a service we are happy – and proud – to provide.”

In addition to free physicals, Northwest Health-affiliated orthopedic and sports medicine specialists have given their time to help care for local student-athletes by donating time to partnering schools, attending sporting events to be present in case of an injury and doing check-ups on athletes in school training rooms.