Healthsouth Sports Medicine
CBA Names HealthSouth Official Sports Medicine Provider Sports & Medical Editors/Basketball Writers & Columnists
PHOENIX--(BW SportsWire)--Sept. 5, 2000
Largest Provider of Sports Medicine Services Teams Up With the
Longest Running Professional Basketball League Through 2003
The Continental Basketball Association announced today that HealthSouth has been named the "Official Sports Medicine Provider" for the League. HealthSouth Corporation (NYSE:HRC), the nation's largest provider of outpatient and rehabilitative healthcare services, will provide a variety of medical services to the CBA for the next three years and will be the exclusive orthopedic treatment provider to the League.
As part of its agreement with the CBA, HealthSouth will provide the following:
-- A professional services relationship with each CBA team
-- Entry and exit physical examinations for all CBA players
-- A certified athletic trainer each of the CBA's 10 teams. Trainers will be
present at CBA team camps, games and all League-sanctioned exhibition tours
-- Team doctors and orthopedic specialists on-call in each CBA market
-- Trainer supplies for the proper treatment of sports-related conditions and
injuries
-- Drug screening and random drug testing as prescribed by the National
Basketball Association
"There is absolutely nothing that is more important than the health and well-being of our players," stated Isiah Thomas, owner and chairman of the CBA. "The landmark agreement we have signed with HealthSouth will provide each of our teams and players with the highest quality health care, and access to the knowledge and technology in order to maximize their performance on and off the court."
Thomas continued: "As we prepare for the 55th season of CBA competition, our confidence in the future is bolstered by the great partnerships we have developed during the last 10 months. Our latest association with HealthSouth will provide tremendous benefits to the CBA that only strengthen our resolve to become the pre-eminent developmental basketball league in the United States."
"We are proud of our sports medicine relationships around the country and are excited about extending that coverage to the CBA," said HealthSouth Chairman of the Board and CEO Richard M. Scrushy. "Our goal is to provide the best sports medicine techniques available to the CBA as it continues to grow. We know that healthy players are a vital part of any sport and our job is to help prevent injuries when possible and get the injured player back in the game as soon as possible."
HealthSouth is the nation's largest provider of outpatient surgery, diagnostic imaging and rehabilitative healthcare services, with more than 2,000 locations in all 50 states, the United Kingdom, Australia, Puerto Rico and Canada. They currently provide sports medicine coverage to the PGA, Senior PGA, LPGA, and NFL Europe, as well as more than 2,000 high schools, 125 colleges and universities and 50 professional teams. HealthSouth can be found on the Web at http://www.HealthSouth.com.
The CBA was founded in 1946 as the Eastern Pennsylvania Basketball League and is the longest running professional basketball league in the United States. Today, the league consists of 10 teams stretching from Hartford, Conn., to Yakima, Wash. During the 1999-2000 season, the CBA transmitted games on the Internet, via video web cast, and is the first professional sports league that can call itself The Digital League(TM).
The CBA's official relationship with the NBA began in 1978 as a referee developmental program and turned into a referee and player developmental program in 1980. The 1999-2000 season marked the CBA's 20th as the Official Developmental League of the NBA. Over the past 22 years (1978-2000), the league has enjoyed a total of 538 CBA-to-NBA player call-ups. Additional information about the CBA can be found at http://www.cbahoops.com.
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