Athletes Advantage & Patch Camp
Athletes Advantage empowers area athletes with the medical care necessary to attain and regain optimum athletic performance. The program is in the St. Joseph's HealthPlex along Jamestown Road north of the hospital.
Physicians
The program was spearheaded by David Neighbors, MD, who was treating an increasing number of athletic injuries in his practice. Dr. Neighbors is board-certified in adult internal medicine, pediatrics and sports medicine and enjoys coaching baseball and teaching strength training.
Other physicians involved include Donald Bassman, MD, Douglas Kruse, MD, and Christopher Rivera, MD.
Dr. Bassman, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon from St. Louis who sees patients in the hospital Specialty Clinics, has worked with the St. Louis Cardinals for 20 years and been the University of Missouri team physician 15 years.
Dr. Kruse and Dr. Rivera are graduates of the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Peoria . Dr. Kruse is board-certified in family practice and has an office in the hospital Physician Office Building . Dr. Rivera is board-eligible in internal medicine and pediatrics and has an office in Carlyle.
Certified Athletic Trainers
The program has certified athletic trainers working with athletes and coaches at area high schools. Each trainer attends home games and practices, has a direct line to a sports medicine physician and orthopedic surgeon and is backed by the resources of St. Joseph's in Breese, including a 24-hour physician-staffed emergency room, medical imaging, laboratory and physical therapy.
Also on the Athletes Advantage team is Lynn Rinella, PT, hospital director of physical therapy. Rinella, a graduate of Illinois Benedictine College and the St. Louis University Physical Therapy program, has over 20 years of experience in treating sports-related injuries.
Personal Athletic Training Challenge or PATCH Camp and sports physicals are also offered by Athletes Advantage. Students interested in sports medicine are encouraged to shadow a certified trainer.
PATCH Camp
PATCH Camp is designed to improve agility, strength, acceleration and explosive power. The camp is offered during the summer to college, high school and junior high athletes, including cheerleaders, involved in team or individual sports
For more information on Athletes Advantage, PATCH Camp or other program activities, call 618.526-5630 or email Jene Bieri.
