EPIC MEDICAL PLAN w/ COMMON SPIRIT

I’m gonna skip the preamble here and jump right into the info. Below you’ll find an overview of our medical program as lined out by Dr. Jack Gervais. Jack’s an Epic vet, but more importantly, he’s an ER doc for Common Spirit / St. Anthony Summit, Epic’s official and exclusive health partner. You’ll hear more from him at the first rider meeting, but in true Jack fashion (he’s a healer AND a communicator), we wanted to make sure that the entire field (and their husbands, wives, moms and kids), all had access to the plan.

This was emailed out yesterday, so you’ve all got your own copy. Placing it here falls under the heading of making important info easy to find.

Thanks all –

MM

• We will have 4-5 teams strategically located around the course to respond to athlete injuries. These are comprised of local Emergency Physicians, Nurses, Paramedics, and EMTs. This is our back yard and we know this terrain by heart.
  • These teams will determine the level of care and evacuation resources necessary to properly care for our patients.
  • We will activate Search and Rescue, 911 Ambulance, or Flight for Life Helicopter if necessary to transport patients to the nearest appropriate facility.
• We will have members of our Orthopedic Surgery team available at the finish.
• There is no charge for our services on course, or at the finish line. Ambulance and Urgent / Emergency department visits are billed as usual.
• If you come across an injured rider, please try to get their bib number, general age / gender, and a rough idea of what their injury is.  Please pass this information along to the next Breck Epic staff that you see, so that they can contact our team.
  • If you are concerned that the rider may have a severe injury, you can call 911 and they will contact us directly.
• These are big, challenging courses and backcountry rescue takes time. You can develop hypothermia very quickly if you are wet and / or exposed at high elevation!
  • Please be prepared to keep yourself warm / dry, fed / hydrated, and otherwise safe in case you experience a prolonged emergency.
• Please activate your Kopilot.ID (required). This gives our medical team vital information so that we can care for you properly.

• There is an urgent / emergency care center located in Breckenridge for minor injuries and illness.
  • CommonSpirit Breckenridge Emergency and Urgent Care

• The main hospital Emergency Department is in Frisco, where CT scan is available along with trauma and orthopedic surgery.
  • CommonSpirit St. Anthony Summit Hospital 

• Patients with signs of a neurological emergency will typically be transported directly to our nearest Level 1 Trauma Center in Lakewood, where Neurosurgery is available.
  • CommonSpirit St. Anthony Hospital
    11600 W 2nd Pl. Lakewood, CO 80228
    720-321-0000
• Our Orthopedic office is available for non-emergent orthopedic concerns.
  • CommonSpirit Summit Orthopedics
    68 School Rd #100, Frisco, CO 80443
    970-262-7400

• Fairly common.  Symptoms include shortness of breath, headache, nausea, fatigue, elevated HR.  Normal or slightly low blood oxygen levels (usually > 80%).
• Drink plenty of fluids.  Ibuprofen (400-600 mg 3-4 times a day) can be effective in prevention and treatment.  Oxygen therapy while sleeping is usually adequate.

• Less common.  Lower blood oxygen levels.  Progressive cough, usually wet and often pink colored. Skin color change (blue or purple lips & fingers).  Usually with headache, difficulty sleeping, and often nausea.
• Requires continuous oxygen treatment and / or descent to lower elevation.  May require emergency department evaluation to rule out other illnesses.

• Very rare at this elevation.  Severe headache, confusion, balance difficulty. Requires immediate oxygen and descent.  Go to the Emergency Department / Call 911.