USC Sports Medicine Center

The S.M.A.R.T. program was established to increase the level of medical care available to South Carolina high school athletes, especially those involved in high-risk contact sports.

The S.M.A.R.T. Program stands for Sports Medicine for Athletes and Recreational Teams and is a combined effort of the University of South Carolina department of Orthopedic Surgery, Family Medicine, Athletic Training, and Athletics.

Goals

• Provide a comprehensive medical system capable of educating athletes for the prevention of injury
• Enhance on the field coverage for early assessment of acute injuries
• Provide access to early post-injury care and rehabilitation
• Establish a communications network for quick and organized care of injured athletes

Components

Athletic programs can take part in our S.M.A.R.T. program two different ways. We offer “full participation” and “limited participation”. Programs that use our full participation are provided an athletic trainer from the USC Graduate Athletic Training. The GA is responsible to cover your athletic practices and events. Limited participation includes physicians affiliated with the USC Sports Medicine Center providing on the field coverage with the support of an athletic trainer. Our goal is to have a physician at every game and/or event. Accessibility to our physicians is done thru your athletic trainer. The athletic trainer at your school will have a contact within our office 24 hours a day seven days a week. The USC graduate athletic training program will be providing the certified athletic trainers for the S.M.A.R.T. program schools. The athletic trainers are students in the USC Graduate Athletic Training program working towards a master’s degree. The graduate program is a leader in the nation in educating athletic trainers and elevating the Sports Medicine care within the Midlands region.