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Each Special Olympics organization (International/National/State) has a Medical Staff composed of Medical Professionals who
are tasked with insuring that the Athletes are not only fit for competition but for providing a safe environment for them
to do their best in their competition. We also provide emergency medical care for the athletes, their coaches and chaperones,
fellow Volunteers, and spectators should assistance be needed.
In Michigan, the SOMI Medical Staff is headed up by a team of people that are the core of the operation. The Medical Staff
Coordinators; 3 Physicians, 1 Neurosurgeon (also a Parent of an Athlete & Coach), and 2 EMT's - are responsible for the
planning and over all supervision (medically) for the athletes at the games. If you where to add up the years of experience
with Special Olympics among this core group you would have numbers that exceeded 100 years!
Then there is the Medical Staff Members themselves. The numbers here vary from year to year but normally we have 20-40 volunteers
that make things work - whatever the challenge. There have been Winter Games, with tempratures reaching down to the low Teens,
where a staff of 10 covered 8 venues and 2 treatment centers! On the other hand there have been Summer Games where we've had
the staff to put 2-4 people at every venue/treatment center and still have extra staff! This group is composed of a diverse
group of skills such as: Physicians (M.D./D.O./Med School Residents and Students), Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), Paramedics
EMT-P), RN/LPN's, Surgical Technicians, Physical Therapists, Life Guards, Massage/Sports Therapists, Military Medic's, Athletic
Trainers, and Medical First Responders (MFR). By combining all these disciplines we have a staff that is capable of providing
quality care in almost any situation that could happen.
One of the unique aspects of the Special Olympics Medical Staff is the Professional Relationships that are created through
the process of providing Medical Coverage at Venues not normally associated with Medical Functions. Agency's such as the National
Park Service, National Ski Patrol, National Guard, and local Hospitals and EMS Agencies. Without their dedication and assistance
the job of the Medical Staff would be much more difficult to complete. A direct spin-off from this relationship is that often
members of these agencies, once exposed to Special Olympics, return as volunteers at other Special Olympic Events. Special
Recognition to members of the National Ski Patrol and Cedar (MI) Fire & Rescue in this aspect.
Then the final "un-sung" Hero's of the Medical Staff, the "Area Medical People." These are the Medical
Staff members that are part of each team from every area in the state. These are the people who make sure the athletes get
their medication when they need it, take care of the little bumps and scrapes away from the venue (hotel or residence hall),
and basically free up the Event Medical Staff to care for more emergent situations at the Venue or in the Treatment Centers.
They are in contact with the athletes constantly where the Event Medical Staff only see select athletes when treatment is
needed or at competition. As part of the "Event Medical Staff" I salute each of them for their dedication to Special
Olympics and the Athletes!
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