Healthy Athlete program aims to prevent tragedies from happening

Last summer, Bronny James, son of NBA star LeBron James, went into sudden cardiac arrest during a basketball workout at the University of California Los Angeles. He was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect and back on the court five months later.

But not all situations end up with the outcome that James did.

Betty Rich, CEO and co-founder of Connected Health in Pine, knows how devastating it can be when a young life is lost to a heart issue that no one knows about — a colleague’s son died at age 18 years old 25 years ago.

“I want to prevent this from happening,” said Rich, a pharmacist. “Often we don’t look until there is a problem. And then it can be too late. Connected Health is about going beyond traditional care.”

The health and wellness facility focuses on proactive and preventative healthcare, Rich said. It opened in 2015 and launched the Healthy Athlete program in 2020, which focuses on sports physicals that have real value rather than just filling out forms, Rich said.

“We believe sports physicals represent an opportunity to make sure young athletes are healthy enough to play sports,” Rich said.

This program is an important part of an athlete’s care, said Dr. Suzanne Wolf, a Connected Health physician.

“We can always be monitoring what’s happening with an athlete,” Wolf said. “It is about a comprehensive approach.”

Components include an electrocardiogram to assess heart health for safe competition and a SportGait concussion screening to establish a baseline for potential injury detection — SportGait is a mobile app that allows athletes, parents, medical providers, coaches and trainers to track cognitive assessments, gait assessments and other measures to baseline and monitor for brain injuries.

A sports physical at Connected Health can include this baseline assessment.

“If we teach kids the fundamentals of how to exercise at a young age and how to exercise properly, they will grow up with exercising as a daily part of their life,” Rich said. ”They will realize the benefit the rest of their lives because they will be healthy and active.”

The initial consultation takes about two hours.

Based on the needs of the athlete, Connected Health can customize a program that can include primary care, but that is not necessary, Rich said.

“We offer sports physicals without membership starting at $50,” Rich said. “Our highest-level sport physical is called our Connected Heart Screening, where we partner with a local pediatric cardiologist for echocardiograms. This screening offers a look at a young person’s heart to make sure no underlying issues exist that could lead to serious medical emergencies.”

The cost for the Connected Heart Screening physical is $549.

“It is our belief that nothing like Connected Health exists anywhere in the U.S.,” said Mike Fox, Connected Health president and co-founder. “There may be pieces of it combined, but not as all-encompassing and comprehensive as what we offer. At Connected Health, we offer value for what people spend on their healthcare. Healthcare is an investment, not an expense.”

In addition to the Healthy Athlete program, Connected Health’s concierge primary care encompasses a comprehensive baseline visit and preventive wellness assessments, a personalized care plan and unlimited communication and visits with a care team and access to a preferred network of specialists.

The concierge primary care program costs $235 per month for one person and includes complimentary access to a state-of-the-art boutique training facility Athletic Republic, which that provides athletes with individualized programs through the guidance of certified performance trainers.

Sienna Cozza, a junior at North Catholic High School in Cranberry, Butler County, was recently working out in Athletic Republic. She has been playing volleyball since she was in fourth grade.

She trains there twice a week.

“I love it here,” Cozza said. “It is a great workout and a place where I can become a better volleyball player and stay healthy. I am taken well care of here.”

Cozza has access to Connected Health’s medical team, which includes physicians, a physician assistant, a nurse practitioner, medical assistants and nurses. There is a physical therapy practice, a health coaching and wellness company along with a chiropractor on Connected Health’s campus.

“If we can teach our kids the proper mechanics of exercise and how to incorporate that into their lives from a young age we are teaching a life skill no matter how their athletic journey unfolds,” Rich said.

Connected Health is located at 12620 Perry Hwy. in Pine.

Details: 724-933-4300 or connectedhealthpgh.com