Spring Break
Athletics department ranks among best in country
for student-athlete health care
Andrea Frainier
Issue date: 11/18/08 Section: News
The National College Players Association, which examined how universities treat their injured student-athletes, awarded SJSU an A+ for the athletic department's medical policies.
"I would expect that," said Scott Shaw, director of sports medicine at SJSU. "I feel we do give quality care to our student-athletes at San Jose State. It doesn't surprise me that we did receive an A+."
The association asked all Division I schools to complete a questionnaire about the athletic program's medical policies. Based on the school's answers, the association assigned them a letter grade from A+ through F. Schools that did not fill out the survey automatically received an F.
Ramogi Huma, president of the National College Players Association, said every school started with an A+.
"Depending on how they answer the questions for the survey, they may have deductions from that point," he said. "San Jose State had no deductions whatsoever."
The questionnaire asked if schools had year-round health coverage for its athletes, if the school ensures that 100 percent of medical expenses incurred from sports-related injuries are paid for and if there are any out-of-pocket medical expenses for athletes.
It also asked if athletes are allowed to seek a second medical opinion independent of the athletic program and how much time the school would pay for medical expenses incurred from a sports-related injury after the athlete's eligibility expired.
SJSU is one of 23 schools that received an A- or better nationwide.
The grading system is part of the association's Medical Policy Disclosure Campaign to provide recruits and college athletes with an understanding of the medical policies of Division I schools.
"Division I football and basketball generates millions of dollars every year," Huma said. "Few athletes know that it's optional for a school to provide medical coverage for their sports-related injuries."
Huma said he started the organization when he was a football player at UCLA and was told that the NCAA wouldn't allow UCLA to pay for medical expenses.
"I would expect that," said Scott Shaw, director of sports medicine at SJSU. "I feel we do give quality care to our student-athletes at San Jose State. It doesn't surprise me that we did receive an A+."
The association asked all Division I schools to complete a questionnaire about the athletic program's medical policies. Based on the school's answers, the association assigned them a letter grade from A+ through F. Schools that did not fill out the survey automatically received an F.
Ramogi Huma, president of the National College Players Association, said every school started with an A+.
"Depending on how they answer the questions for the survey, they may have deductions from that point," he said. "San Jose State had no deductions whatsoever."
The questionnaire asked if schools had year-round health coverage for its athletes, if the school ensures that 100 percent of medical expenses incurred from sports-related injuries are paid for and if there are any out-of-pocket medical expenses for athletes.
It also asked if athletes are allowed to seek a second medical opinion independent of the athletic program and how much time the school would pay for medical expenses incurred from a sports-related injury after the athlete's eligibility expired.
SJSU is one of 23 schools that received an A- or better nationwide.
The grading system is part of the association's Medical Policy Disclosure Campaign to provide recruits and college athletes with an understanding of the medical policies of Division I schools.
"Division I football and basketball generates millions of dollars every year," Huma said. "Few athletes know that it's optional for a school to provide medical coverage for their sports-related injuries."
Huma said he started the organization when he was a football player at UCLA and was told that the NCAA wouldn't allow UCLA to pay for medical expenses.
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