The Integrated Sports Medicine and Rehabilitative Therapy Clinic (ISMaRT) reopened Aug. 31 to continue providing their services.
ISMaRT provides athletic training and physical therapy to those in the community. Students can receive services for no fee.
Director of Therapy Services Jayme Baker said they had to cut a few hours due to staffing, but otherwise, their days of operation remain the same. The clinic is open Monday through Friday with current hours available online.
ISMaRT is now offering telehealth appointments to provide services virtually.
In the spring, the clinic took a few weeks to set up telehealth services following the move to online classes.
“We explored (telehealth) a little bit in the spring and decided that we were going to offer it from the beginning of the semester,” Baker said.
The decision was influenced by concerns of the university potentially moving abruptly online, as well as for students who are uncomfortable coming in person.
“So far, things have been going pretty smoothly,” Baker said. “We’re looking towards the future to determine how we will transition when students go online.”
While hygiene standards remain the same, with staff continuing to clean after every patient, there have been changes in the clinic’s capacity.
The number of people inside at a time is being limited to ensure the maintenance of six-feet distance and to keep the waiting area relatively empty.
One concern for the clinic in the fall is the potential of students having to take a break in their care, which has been a push to make telehealth services work.
“If they have an injury and are unable to come see us for whatever reason, we want to be able to still help them from a distance,” Baker said. “I think that’s our biggest challenge.”
While students receive services for free, faculty and staff pay $10 per visit. Community members pay $15.
The clinic is located on the first floor of the Education Building. Patients can come in by walk-in and appointment. Telehealth appointments are offered by request.
Haadiya Tariq can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @haadiyatariq