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Optum is stepping up to ensure youth athletes can access affordable sports physical exams, a requirement for participating in school sports.
Changes in healthcare have made it challenging for many families to schedule timely physicals, but a program developed by Dr. Elmo Agatep and Tyler Huesca is making a difference.
Dr. Agatep, an Optum Seal Beach physician, collaborated with Huesca, a Certified Athletic Trainer at Los Alamitos High School, to create an accessible solution.
On May 11th, Dr. Elmo Agatep, Dr. Wendy Grose, Dr. Christine Carreon, Sima Shayne, Optum ancillary staff, and student athletic trainers from Long Beach State University conducted approximately 370 sports physicals at Los Alamitos High School.
This effort has helped more than 350 students annually, providing a vital service when scheduling appointments with primary care providers can take months and insurance often does not cover sports physicals.
This program, now in its fifth year, has averaged 1,000 sports physicals annually. The process includes pre-filled forms to expedite check-ins, and students are taken through various stations for blood pressure checks, eye tests, muscle-skeletal exams, and agility assessments.
The medical team then reviews the forms, listens to heart and lung sounds, and checks for any abdominal abnormalities. Any concerns are communicated to parents and the school’s athletic department.
The cost is $25.00 or a donation to offset gym costs, but no student is turned away. Volunteers enjoy providing this service and look forward to next year’s event, aiming to help even more students.
They are grateful for the leadership and dedication of Dr. Agatep and Tyler Huesca in making this program a success.
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