As the transfer portal continues to reshape college athletics, one often-overlooked challenge is ensuring continuity of medical care when student-athletes change schools.
"One of the negative consequences of the transfer portal is there's not that consistency of the maturation of a young student-athlete at a particular school," Bevacqua said. "With particular doctors and staffs and trainers to know that young person's journey from an 18-year-old to a 22-year-old."
Bevacqua noted that continuity of care plays an important role in injury prevention and overall athlete health.
"It also helps the prevention of injuries," he said. "You're surrounded by your doctors, your trainers, your counselors. If you're just jumping around from school to school every year, you're starting from ground zero."
That perspective is shared by Notre Dame Associate Athletic Director of Sports Medicine Rob Hunt, who said obtaining complete medical histories for transfer athletes is essential—but not always simple. Athletic Trainers must first receive permission from the athlete before requesting records, and the quality and detail of documentation can vary significantly between institutions.
"We're all trying to acquire that information as quickly as possible to make sure that continuity of care is well delivered," Hunt said. "Some places do it better than others and some places don't have really detailed records, so that's a little frustrating."
Concussion history presents another important consideration. Hunt explained that previous evaluations, treatments, and recovery timelines all help sports medicine staffs make informed decisions moving forward.
"From a concussion side of things, it's no different than any other injury piece that we try to acquire," Hunt said. "Again, we're just gathering information and making good decisions for how to best serve them."
As transfer numbers continue to grow across college athletics, complete medical documentation and effective communication between sports medicine teams remain critical to providing seamless care and helping Athletic Trainers make informed decisions that prioritize student-athlete health. Check out the full story here!
Athletic Trainers often need athlete permission before obtaining medical records, and records can vary significantly between institutions, making it more difficult to establish complete medical histories.
Previous concussion history, baseline testing, treatment protocols, and recovery timelines all help Athletic Trainers make informed decisions about future evaluations and return-to-play progression.
Consistent medical documentation, timely record sharing, standardized injury reporting, and collaboration between sports medicine staffs can help ensure athletes receive seamless care when transferring schools.
College Athletics • Athletic Trainers • Transfer Portal • Continuity of Care • Sports Medicine • Concussion Management • Athlete Health • Medical Documentation • Injury Prevention