Following a request-for-proposal process, Community Hospital was awarded the sports medicine contract for Colorado Mesa University athletics, including all varsity and club sports, the hospital announced in a news release.

Community Hospital and Western Orthopedics and Sports Medicine have provided comprehensive sports medicine services to Colorado Mesa University for more than 40 years.

The partnership between Community Hospital and CMU dates back to the early 1980s, when Western Orthopedics and Sports Medicine and Community Hospital split the cost of the first athletic trainer provided to CMU, which was Mesa State College at the time. Dr. Larry Copeland, founder of Western Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, served as the team physician for more than 30 years.

Community Hospital currently provides comprehensive on-site sports medicine services in the Copeland Family Athletic Training Room before and after practices and during games and travels with the teams as requested.

The Community Hospital orthopedic physicians who spend time in the CMU athletic training room have a combined 57 years of experience and also serve as the team physicians for four Mesa County Valley School District 51 area high schools and the Grand Junction Jackalopes baseball team.

CMU has access to more than 20 health care professionals, including a medical director, nine orthopedic sports-medicine physicians/surgeons, on-site physical therapists, on-site athletic trainers, registered dieticians, sports psychologists, licensed professional counselors and health coaches.

“We are honored to continue our longstanding partnership with CMU,” said Chris Thomas, president and CEO for Community Hospital. “CMU student-athletes have the full force of our entire organization supporting them to provide whatever services they may need.

“It is our continued commitment to CMU, and the student-athletes and their families, that a physician will be present at sanctioned varsity contests. Our physician coverage exceeds even some D1 (NCAA Division I) level sports medicine programs. We are extremely proud of the work our staff has done over the years to ensure the highest level of sports medicine coverage offered to CMU student-athletes.”

To learn more about the comprehensive health care services offered at Community Hospital, visit YourCommunityHospital.com.