Tennova’s Athletic Trainer for the school system was also at the meeting. 

Tennova LaFollette Medical Center CEO Mark Cain, Tennova Athletic Trainer Rachel Kozemko and Tennova LaFollette Medical Center Rehab Director Chris Mathews at Tuesday’s Campbell County Rotary Club Meeting.

By Charlotte Underwood 

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- The Campbell County Rotary Club learned about the Tennova LaFollette Medical Center’s Rehab department on Tuesday at the club’s weekly luncheon held at the LaFollette Methodist Church. 

Tennova LaFollette Medical Center CEO Mark Cain introduced Tuesday’s speaker which was Dr. Chris Mathews Director of Rehab at Tennova LaFollette Medical Center. 

Tennova’s Athletic Trainer for the school system Rachel Kozemko was also at the meeting. 

Mathews attended UT Chattanooga for physical therapy and earned his doctorate degree from there. Kozemko is also a UT Chattanooga graduate with a degree in exercise science.

Tennova LaFollette Medical Center CEO Mark Cain introduced guest speaker Dr. Chris Mathews at Tuesday’s Rotary Club meeting.

Mathews has been at Tennova LaFollette Medical Center for around a year and a half, while Kozemko has been with the hospital for about six months.

“My role at the hospital encompasses physical therapy, occupational therapy services, speech therapy services and athletic training with Rachel at the school system,” Mathews said.

Previously Mathews worked with the Knoxville Ice Bears as well and got experienced in the “business side of sports medicine.” In that position he “screened athletes from across the world” who were coming to hopefully play for the Ice Bears.

“For every one of these players that came in, we would assess every single joint, their spine, their concussion history and we’re screening them for health concerns for whether or not they are going to employ this athlete in their franchise, …seeing the professional sports side of it and getting that experience and trying to find a way to mold that type of orthopedic care into Rehab that you might experience at a family practice in rural medicine is important,” Mathews said.

Tennova LaFollette Medical Center Rehab Director Chris Mathews guest spoke at Tuesday’s Campbell County Rotary Club Luncheon.

He spoke about the value of  having an athlete trainer on staff for the school’s sports programs as well.

“Rachel’s role at the school system is super important … her main role is injury screening and injury prevention.  Her main project each year is sports physicals,” Mathews said.

Providers from the hospital perform physicals for area student athletes.

“This year we had 80 kids show up and actually found three kids with undiagnosed sports injuries,” Mathews said.

Kozemko also helps train students who have an interest in becoming athletic trainers themselves. 

“She has five kids right now who are interested in becoming an athletic trainer and her being able to be involved and being a role model for these kids is great. She is teaching them a skill set. Where she falls within our Rehab department is wonderful … we’re thankful to have her here with us,” Mathews said.

Kozemko is also involved in the outpatient center with student athletes as well providing “sports medicine” to area athletes. 

Mathews also spoke about the growth of the rehab department and how the hospital is trying to increase service to the community.

“Our outpatient and therapy programs within the hospital are important because we see people across the entire spectrum of generations within families,” Mathews said.

He also highlighted the importance of Tennova’s outpatient center at Woodson’s Mall and said that a year ago the hospital was able to “get the only contract within six counties with the state of Tennessee to provide Tennessee Early Intervention Services, which is for children who are born premature or with a low birth weight or they have motor milestone delays.”

“It’s not just from a socioeconomic standpoint low income, it’s across the spectrum that allows us to bring in these kids with this disfunction; if you don’t have insurance to Tenn Care or with private insurance and we provide care to those families and work with them on motor delay and try to bring them back up to what would be considered normal. We also do that with speech therapies as well,” Mathews said.

He spoke about the level of experience at the hospital’s Rehab department and that the therapists all had specialties in different services.  For example, he is certified in neurology and Parkinson’s Disease.

“We bring a lot of expertise, and we all have a specialty in different things …We can provide care across the spectrum from pediatrics all the through to adolescents and geriatrics … our hospital being able to provide that continuum of care for multiple generations within our community is wonderful.” (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 07/24/2024-6AM)

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