Paris, TN – March has been designated as National Athletic Trainers Month to honor and spread awareness about the important work of athletic trainers across the country, from the high school to professional levels. Athletic trainers specialize in prevention, examination, evaluation, immediate care, and rehabilitation for acute or chronic conditions or injuries that result from playing sports and other physical activities. Athletic training is recognized by the American Medical Association as an allied healthcare profession.
Jessica French, PTA/ATC, a physical therapy assistant and athletic trainer at the Center for Wellness and Rehabilitation at Henry County Medical Center, is passionate about her work with young athletes in her community. Currently, she serves as the athletic trainer for Inman Middle School in Paris, TN, HCMC’s Partner in Education.
Athletic trainers spend long hours, mostly in the evenings and weekends, striving to keep their athletes free of injury or getting them back on the field when they do get hurt. She said the past year has had the added task of dealing with a pandemic.
“COVID-19 has forced a lot of changes for everyone and athletic trainers are playing a vital role in the sports world right now,” explained French, who has been a board certified and licensed athletic trainer for seven years.
French, a Paris native, is one of 13 physical therapists or assistants treating patients at the Center for Wellness and Rehabilitation. She recently did a video about athletic training and the services she offers at the Center: https://youtu.be/EWAIJBRyjs0.
The Center offers convenient and specialized care providing services for orthopedic patients, neurological patients, lymphedema patients, speech/language pathology patients, pediatric physical and occupational therapy, vestibular patients and a variety of other diagnoses.
To learn more about the HCMC Center for Wellness and Rehabilitation, check us out online at www.hcmc-tn.org or go to our new FB page, https://www.facebook.com/HCMCWellnessCenter. For an appointment, call our Center at 731-642-2411.
About Henry County Medical Center
Located in Paris, TN, Henry County Medical Center is a progressive, integrated healthcare organization committed to serving the needs of Henry County and the adjoining region. Including a 142-bed hospital and other facilities, the medical center provides a variety of outpatient services, as well as inpatient care. Additionally, HCMC owns and operates 7 provider clinics in various specialties. Henry County Medical Center is a county-owned and operated nonprofit institution. For more information: www.hcmc-tn.org.