Florida’s First Athletic Training Heart Screening Program Launches in Duval County Public High Schools with Simply Healthcare’s $100,000 Contribution to Who We Play For

Jacksonville, FL – Simply Healthcare Plans (Simply Healthcare), a leading provider of Medicaid and Medicare solutions in Florida, today announced a second phase of its partnership with Who We Play For (WWPF). A portion of its $100,000 donation will fund the launch of Florida’s first athletic training heart screening program for Duval County youth. Through this program, all 17 public high schools in Duval County will gain access to an electrocardiogram (ECG) machine, allowing licensed athletic trainers to provide heart screenings year-round to prevent sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), the leading cause of death among student athletes.

 

“Detecting underlying heart conditions can ensure prompt medical attention, preventing cardiac arrest and saving the lives of Florida youth,” said Dana Gryniuk, Medicaid President of Simply Healthcare. “Simply Healthcare is honored to join forces with Who We Play For to support the groundbreaking first in Florida athletic training heart screening initiative in Duval County. Together, we are equipping high school athletic trainers with the tools and instruction required to protect our young athletes.” 

 

“We’re proud to launch the first-in-Florida athletic training heart screening program in Duval County,” said Evan Ernst, Executive Director of Who We Play For. “This initiative marks a significant step forward in our mission to ensure every young athlete has access to life-saving cardiac screenings and elevating the standard of care for all youth.” 

 

“Duval County Public Schools are grateful for the leadership provided by the Jacksonville Sports Medicine Program by advancing our abilities in the prevention of sports-related injuries or death. The Duval Schools acknowledge Simply and WWPF’s role in protecting our students by establishing Florida’s first Athletic Training heart screen program right here in Duval County,” said Gerald Stevens, LAT, ATC, Supervisor of Athletic Training Services for the District. “This program will provide access to preventative health care that our students may not have had otherwise to screen for undetected, underlying heart conditions before tragedy strikes.”

 

Simply Healthcare will sponsor one year of funding to provide about 1,700 screenings on a first-come, first-serve basis. Each of the Duval County Public Schools’ athletic trainers will keep the ECG, provided by Simply and WWPF, and perform the heart screenings. WWPF and the Jacksonville Sports Medicine Program (JSMP) recently hosted an event, providing athletic trainers an opportunity to learn and practice the proper administration of an ECG.

 

Athletic trainers are licensed healthcare providers in Florida who render service or treatment, under the direction of or in collaboration with a physician. As a part of the health care team, services provided by athletic trainers include injury and illness prevention, wellness promotion and education, emergent care, examination, therapeutic intervention, and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions.

 

An ECG is a simple test that records electrical signals in the heart and can detect heart problems – it’s the most effective tool to identify youth and student athletes at risk for SCA with the lowest false positive rate.

 

“It’s alarming how often underlying heart conditions go undetected, especially among student athletes,” said Robert Sefcik, LAT, ATC, Executive Director of Jacksonville Sports Medicine Program. “We are thrilled to see so many organizations team up in our community to make ECGs available for Duval County students and we’re proud to play a role in helping students stay active and play sports without risking their health and well-being.”

 

SCA is the number one cause of death among student athletes, with one student athlete dying every three days in the United States. It is the number two medical cause of death among youth under 25 years of age. What’s more, SCA is the leading cause of death on school campuses.

 

Death resulting from SCA can be prevented through primary and secondary prevention strategies. In fact, about 91% of SCA victims die due to a delay in emergency response, with chances of survival dropping by 10% each minute of delay.

 

To date, Simply has donated $300,000 to WWPF to support its mission of eliminating preventable sudden cardiac death in youth through health screenings over the last three years. Funding for the athletic training heart screening program for Duval County youth is just a portion of Simply Healthcare’s $100,000 contribution to WWPF in 2024.

 

Since 2014, WWPF has screened more than 300,000 students, ages 10 to 22, at a low cost or at no cost for families who cannot afford to pay for it. WWPF has documented saving the lives of more than 300 kids with heart conditions and expanding our reach to more than 500 communities across the nation.

 

About Simply Healthcare Plans

Simply Healthcare Plans, Inc., is a Florida managed health care plan that serves Medicare Advantage and Medicaid members in the state of Florida. In addition, Simply, through a line of business called Clear Health Alliance, also serves Florida Medicaid members who are living with HIV/AIDS. Our goal is to provide healthcare and related services that are comprehensive, integrated and patient-centered. Each and every day, members of our team can be found in Florida communities, listening to our members, interacting with our health care providers and partnering with community-based organizations. Our goal is to ensure members and entire communities are empowered to become active participants in their health care and sustain healthy lifestyles. To learn more about Simply, visit www.simplyhealthcareplans.com.

 

About Who We Play For

Who We Play For (WWPF) is a nonprofit dedicated to eliminating preventable sudden cardiac death in the young through affordable heart screenings. In partnership with health systems, schools, sports clubs, and communities, across Florida, WWPF’s vision is to ensure all youth have access to heart screenings - no matter their level of athletics, socio-economic status, or geographical location.  To learn more about bringing WWPF’s heart screening program to your school or community please visit whoweplayfor.org.

 

About Duval County Public Schools

Duval County Public Schools educates more than 129,000 students in the beautiful and fast-growing community of Jacksonville, Florida. Team Duval educators work together every day to fulfill this vision: That every student is inspired and prepared for success in college or a career, and life.

 

About Jacksonville Sports Medicine Program

The Jacksonville Sports Medicine Program (JSMP) is a unique, volunteer-based, 501 C(3) nonprofit organization that stands as a beacon for youth sports injury prevention. The JSMP is a community-driven entity that collaborates with schools, coaches, doctors, healthcare professionals, parents, and other community members across North Florida. Through our relationship with the Florida Alliance for Sports Medicine (FASMed), our mission connects stakeholders of sports safety across the state, all united to make sports safer for kids. The JSMP was established in 1984 and proudly boasts an unwavering dedication to youth sports safety through awareness, advocacy, and injury prevention is bolstered by the support of sustaining partners, Wolfson Children’s Hospital, Nemours Children’s Health, the Duval County Medical Society, Brooks Rehabilitation, and the Duval County Public Schools, ensuring a safe playing experience for all youth athletes. For additional information, please visit jaxsmp.com.