UHS Sports Medicine Hotline –Help is just a phone call away

UHS Sports Medicine offers a dedicated hotline answered by New York state licensed athletic trainers.
Who should call? Parents, high school or college athletes, golfers, adult runners, adult league athletes, firefighters, police officers or EMS providers – anyone using his or her body to the fullest who experiences an injury. The hotline is for any athlete, regardless of age or sport.

This dedicated line – reachable at (607) 762-3865 – is managed by certified athletic trainers from 8 AM to 9 PM Monday through Friday and 10 AM to 9 PM Saturday and Sunday. Callers connect with an experienced athletic trainer from UHS Sports Medicine who can assist in scheduling an appointment with the appropriate UHS sports medicine provider.

According to UHS Sports Medicine Field Manager/Lead Athletic Trainer Jay Hubbard, MS, LAT, ATC, PES, staff answering the hotline are able to asked detailed questions about the injury: “This allows them to pinpoint which provider will be best able to assist. The athletic trainers also have the authority to add onto provider schedules, accessing blocked times or end-of-day slots, ensuring that new patients with an immediate need are seen in a timely way.”

The hotline is designed for people with sports-related injuries who need a medical appointment, but don’t think they need to go to the walk-in or the emergency department immediately. “The hotline gives people an option to talk things over with an athletic trainer, who can figure out the best way to fit you in the next day. Plus, this ensures you’ll see a sports-medicine trained provider. Athletic trainers are familiar with sports-related injuries and appropriate management, so using the hotline should save a step in the long run,” said Hubbard.

If it’s a true emergency – a cardiac concern, loss of consciousness, severe bleeding, broken bone, severe deformity – be sure to seek emergency department care or call 911 rather than calling the hotline, even if the cause of the injury is sports-related. For concussion concerns, please view the frequently-asked questions on the UHS website at www.nyuhs.org/care-treatment/orthopedic-services/concussion-program/frequently-asked-questions-about-concussion/.

There is no charge from UHS for calling the hotline. Those placing calls must be over 18, and the department prefers to speak with a parent or guardian even if the athlete is 18, since parental authorization is required for an appointment.
For more information, visit www.nyuhs.org.

UHS is a locally owned, not-for-profit hospital and healthcare system serving Greater Binghamton and surrounding counties. Founded in 1981, UHS provides a full range of medical, surgical, rehabilitative and long-term care services throughout New York’s Southern Tier. 

Follow the latest UHS news and more at nyuhs.org and on Facebook (facebook.com/uhshospitals) and Twitter (twitter.com/uhsinc).