Student-Athlete Athletic Medicine FAQ

Because your physical well-being is essential to your success, both as a student and as an athlete, the Athletic Department feels a strong responsibility to help you reach and maintain your optimum health.

Medical Emergency
Dial 911 for all life-threatening injuries and remain on the line until EMS arrives.

Physical Exams
All incoming freshmen and transfer student-athletes are required to complete a medical history and have a physical exam performed by athletic medicine staff before participating in the athletic program. The physical exam includes lab testing and an ECG.

The physical exam process concludes with a “BEEP” test. This test is a phased ambulatory exercise which provides an assessment of exercise tolerance.

All upperclassmen will complete a medical questionnaire at the start of the fall semester, to ensure their medical information is kept current, and any conditions needing further evaluation are assessed.

After arrival at Nebraska, all student-athletes receive a copy of the “NCAA Concussion Fact Sheet for Student-Athletes.” During pre-participation physicals, all student-athletes are asked to provide their personal history of head injury and concussions, a neurological baseline and balance test is performed, and a signed shared responsibility statement is required. 

Care of Injuries and Illness
Student-athletes are provided contact information to reach the assigned athletic trainer for their sport, and must report all injuries or illness promptly. A physician-staffed medical clinic is available during the school year in the Osborne Complex Athletic Medicine Center. No appointment is necessary. 

The phone number for the Osborne Complex Athletic Medicine Center Training Room is 472-2276.  The main training room is open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday during the academic year. Summer hours will be posted. 

Student-athletes needing orthopaedic consultation are seen by a Team Orthopaedic Physician in afternoon clinic or at a time set by the athletic trainer.

Referrals
When the medical staff encounters a condition that would benefit by evaluation and or treatment through referral to a specialist, the athletic trainer or team physician will assist in scheduling the appointment. If transportation is needed, an athletic trainer will make the necessary arrangements. 

In the event a scheduled appointment cannot be kept, the student-athlete must contact the athletic trainer in advance to cancel or reschedule the appointment. Some offices charge for missed appointments if notice has not been received within 24 hours of the scheduled time. Athletic Medicine is not allowed to pay for missed appointments.

Covered Expenses
Medical expenses that are due to injury or illness sustained by a student-athlete as a direct result of practice or participation in intercollegiate athletics at any time during the year will be covered by our insurance program.

UNL Athletic Medicine coverage is considered secondary, or excess, and the student-athlete’s personal or parental insurance is considered primary. The student-athlete must first present the claim to their primary insurance company. After the primary insurer has paid on the allowable charges, the University’s insurance will pay the remaining charges. 

At no time will the student-athletes or their parents sustain any expenses if the injury is a direct result of participation in their sport.

A copy of the bill from the provider showing outstanding balances must be sent to the Athletic Department for final payment. This information must be provided in a timely manner (within 30 days of receipt of the statement). 

The training room is to be utilized for all athletic related treatments. All related medical bills and prescription expenses must be approved for payment by the Director of Athletic Medicine or Head Athletic Trainer in accordance with Athletic Department and NCAA regulations. 

The Athletic Department does not assume any financial responsibility for medical treatment obtained without a referral from a team physician or by the head athletic trainer. 

The Athletic Department may consider payment for certain medical conditions not resulting from athletic participation when treatments are deemed necessary for the student-athlete to compete. These medical expenses are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

It is strongly advised that all student-athletes have medical insurance coverage. For those not covered under their parents’ insurance plan, a student insurance plan is available. Details are provided on the UNL.edu website.

Drug Testing
Annually the athletic compliance and athletic medicine staffs conduct NCAA, Big Ten and institutional drug testing information meetings. The provisions of these programs, notification policies, educational programming, and consequences for violations of the policies are explained in these meetings. The drug testing policy may be accessed on the Athletic Medicine page at huskers.com,Any questions you have regarding drug testing should be directed to your athletic trainer or the athletic medicine staff at 472-2276.