For more information contact:
Derek Butler
Orthopaedic Service Line Leader
715-735-4200, ext. 5112

Lynda Bahde, APNP with NorthReach Healthcare, listens to Arielle Starzynski’s breathing during a sports physical at Stephenson High School on May 17.

(Marinette, Wis.) – Close to 500 local athletes will be ready to take the fields and the courts this upcoming school year after receiving a healthy approval from Bay Area Medical Center and NorthReach Healthcare.

The two healthcare entities partnered to conduct complete sports physicals over the past three months for athletes of Marinette, Menominee, Crivitz and Stephenson school districts. The sports physicals program provided by Bay Area Medical Center and NorthReach Healthcare ensured that every athlete was capable and fit to play.

Athletes were charged $20, and the entire amount was donated back to the athlete’s respective school. In all, $9,200 was donated to the participating schools to support sports programs.

“It’s good to be able to donate to our younger members of the community and help support the various sports booster club programs,” said Lynda Bahde, APNP, a Nurse Practitioner with NorthReach Healthcare that helped conduct the physicals.
Athletes were given a complete exam that included height, weight, vision and blood pressure check. Next physical therapists, occupational therapists and athletic trainers from Bay Area Medical Center conducted full musculoskeletal exams on the athletes’ head, neck, shoulder, lower back, knees and ankles.

Qualified physicians and medical providers ended the process with a medical exam that checked overall health such as heart, lung and internal functioning.

“We had a lot of staff involved with these physicals – especially physicians. I would like to thank them for their dedication in caring for these young athletes,” said Derek Butler, orthopaedic service line leader at Bay Area Medical Center.

“The physicians and the many other volunteers provide their services as a way of giving back to our community,” said Dr. Charles Simpson, Bay Area Medical Center Occupational Health. “As a fellow of the American College of Preventative Medicine, I do honestly feel an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure.”