Background

Since 2021, Memorial Hospital System (MHS) and Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital (JMCH) U-18 Sports Medicine Program have partnered with Go4 to provide athletic training (AT) coverage for unfilled contracted schools. This collaboration has evolved to meet the hospital’s growing needs, ensuring that student-athletes receive high-quality sports medicine care in Palm Beach and Broward Counties.

Through Go4’s platform, MHS has successfully scaled its outreach program by filling coverage gaps with both full-time and per diem (PRN) athletic trainers, streamlining injury documentation, and optimizing operational workflows. Over the course of three years, Go4 ATs have provided more than 18,332 hours of coverage to 36 secondary schools, impacting over 15,000 student-athletes in southern Florida.

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CHALLENGE

Before engaging with Go4, MHS faced several challenges in its outreach AT program:

1. Multiple Unfilled AT Positions: A shortage of available full-time athletic trainers made it difficult to meet contracted school obligations.

2. Inconsistent Coverage: Schools lacked continuity in AT services, leading to gaps in care for student-athletes

3. Inefficient Scheduling & Communication: Managing PRN ATs across multiple locations was complex and time-consuming.
   

4. Injury Documentation & Referral Management: There was a need for seamless integration with MHS systems to effectively track injuries and referrals.

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Solution

MHS turned to Go4 to supplement and optimize its AT coverage model. Go4 provided on-demand access to credentialed PRN athletic trainers while also recruiting full-time placements to fill long-term needs. The partnership addressed key pain points through:

1. Integrated EMR Usage & Injury Documentation
> Full-time ATs are connected to MHS’s encrypted communication network (EPIC Chat) and EMR systems to document injuries and streamline referrals.

> ATs placed in full-time, long-term positions are connected to MHS’s EMR system to document injuries.

> Although MHS does not require Go4’s sideline EMR, many PRN ATs use it to document injuries and share notes with athletes or guardians.

2. Standardized Operational Protocols
> Full-time ATs follow MHS’s administrative operating procedures and referral protocols, ensuring they operate within the hospital’s scope of practice.

> PRN ATs use their own supervising physician standing orders, as required by Go4, maintaining professional autonomy while aligning with MHS standards.

3. Optimized Coverage Request Process
> Bi-weekly coordination between MHS and Go4’s Head of TAT ensures efficient scheduling and placement.

> PRN coverage requests are handled through a structured Excel template, with requests filled via Go4’s platform.

> PRN ATs are paid upfront by Go4, and MHS is invoiced bi-weekly, simplifying financial management.

> Full-time AT recruitment is supported through multiple hiring platforms, expediting placements.

4. Scalable Contract Hours Model
> Over the course of the last four academic years, Go4’s staffing model evolved alongside MHS’s needs as they rebuilt their community outreach model in Southern Florida following COVID:

> In 2023-24, referral tracking was introduced, leading to eight surgical referrals from full-time ATs.

> In 2024-25, the contract transitioned to a 500-hour minimum model, with all full-time and PRN hours contributing to this total.

5. Long-Term Impact
> Over 18,332 total hours of athletic training coverage have been provided across 36 schools in Palm Beach and Broward Counties.