Cookeville Regional will no longer provide athletic trainers to Putnam County high schools after choosing not to submit a bid for a new contract.
Director of Marketing and Communications Hannah Davis said the hospital recently completed a five-year agreement to supply trainers to the district. The school system is currently requesting proposals from other organizations to fill the upcoming vacancy for student-athletes.
“CRMC did not place a bid on the Putnam County school system’s athletic trainer agreement,” Davis said. “However, we are extremely grateful for the five years we have had and look forward to others in our community having the opportunity to work with the incredible athletes in the Putnam County school system. It truly is a rewarding program.”
Davis said the hospital will not assist the school system in the transition to a new athletic training provider. The hospital expects the changeover to be a seamless process for the district.
“We have incredible partners within Putnam County and so I think whoever wins this bid will continue to provide incredible care for the athletes in our school system and so I think it will be a very seamless process and transition,” Davis said.
Davis said the hospital will continue to support local schools through career fairs, student worker programs, and athletic sponsorships. The facility also provides sports physicals and strength and conditioning classes for local students.
Davis said the hospital provided athletic trainers to the school system for the last five years. The hospital could potentially submit a bid to partner with the school system again when the next contract cycle opens.
“When the agreement comes back up, that is something that we can look into and evaluate at the time,” Davis said. “I think that we can look at those doors as they open and evaluate where we are and how we’re continuing to serve our community at that point.”
The Putnam County school system will now select a new provider to take over athletic training duties for the upcoming seasons.
