Today (April 8) UT Permian Basin athletics is taking an extra step to protect your student athlete by providing comprehensive cardiovascular testing to help prevent sudden cardiac arrest.  

Sudden Cardiac Arrest is the leading cause of death to athletes on school campuses and is caused by an abnormality in the heart's electrical system or structure that abruptly stops the heartbeat. According to the American Heart Association, in the United States a young athlete dies every three days from SCA.  These same students had all passed their sports physicals and had been cleared for athletics.  In 80% of these cases, there were no warning signs or symptoms leading up to the cardiac episode.  
In light of the pandemic, now more than ever it is crucial for athletes to undergo cardiovascular testing.  The Coronavirus can cause damage to the heart and cardiovascular system. Any student who had tested positive for the Coronavirus, whether they had shown severe, moderate, or mild symptoms, or had been asymptomatic is now at an even greater risk for having a cardiac episode! 

PULSE Athletic Testing will be the company performing these tests and will test for an EKG, echocardiogram, and an ultrasound to detect abnormalities that can put your student athlete at risk for a cardiac episode.  They will identify any life-threatening conditions common to athletes (such as Myocarditis, HCM, blood clots and DVTs).

All tests are non-invasive, and the privacy and safety of your child is always maintained. All three tests will take approximately 1 hour, and they are done on school grounds.
You will have no out-of-pocket cost for these tests.  PULSE Athletic Testing will bill your health insurance directly for the testing. The policyholder may receive an Explanation of Benefits (EOBs) from their carrier showing patient responsibility.

This is not a bill, so do not pay anything to your carrier. These statements may indicate the policyholder owes a specific amount, but these are not bills and no payment should be remitted; they are routine notifications from the insurance company and do not accurately reflect the costs of the testing or what you would owe if it were a bill. You will not receive a bill for this testing.