WEST PLAINS, MO – Ozarks Healthcare is partnering with local schools this spring to provide free sports physicals during school hours, making it easy for students of all ages to get cleared for sports and activities.
Schools will distribute physical forms for parents to complete and return on the scheduled day. Families should contact their school office or nurse for more information and to obtain a form.
Incoming 7th–12th graders attending any West Plains High School summer camps are required to have a current physical on file.
Routine physical exams are essential to helping kids stay active and healthy. Sports physicals not only ensure students are ready to participate in physical activity safely, but they also provide an opportunity to detect any underlying health concerns that could impact a child’s well-being. Encouraging physical activity in youth can help prevent obesity, diabetes, and other chronic diseases, while also promoting stronger mental health and academic performance.
The following dates and locations are currently scheduled for on-site physicals:
- April 3 – Fairview R-11 School District (Physicals completed)
- April 16 – West Plains R-7 School District (at the Ozarks Healthcare Zizzer Clinic)
- April 22 – Junction Hill C-12 School District (on Junction Hill campus)
- April 24 – Glenwood R-8 School District (on Glenwood campus)
- April 28 through May 9 – West Plains R-7 School District (at the Ozarks Healthcare Zizzer Clinic)
- May 7 – Howell Valley R-1 School District (on Howell Valley campus)
- May 14 – Richards R-5 School District (on Richards campus)
- June 3 – Dora R-3 School District (on the Dora campus from 9 a.m. to noon)
- June 11 – Gainesville R-5 School District (on the Gainesville campus)
- June 17 – Bakersfield R-4 School District (on the Bakersfield campus)
- Dates to be announced – Koshkonong R-3 School District, Winona R-3 School District, and Alton R-4 School District
For West Plains R-7 Families:
Call the Ozarks Healthcare Zizzer Clinic at 417-505-7123 to schedule appointments for physicals on April 16 or April 28 – May 9. These can be completed during the school day, and students will be excused during their appointment time.
Missed Your School’s Day?
Students who miss their school’s scheduled date can call the Ozarks Healthcare Zizzer Clinic to schedule a makeup appointment. The clinic is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. for lunch).
Additional free physicals will be offered this summer at Ozarks Healthcare’s rural clinics for surrounding communities. Dates and details will be announced soon.
School districts that would like to coordinate an on-site physical day can call Megan Thompson, Director of Clinics, at 417-256-9111 ext. 5775.
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Ozarks Healthcare is a not-for-profit health system that serves more than 160,000 residents across south-central Missouri and northern Arkansas. With its main campus residing in West Plains, Missouri, the health system offers a full spectrum of healthcare for all ages through its 114-bed hospital, behavioral health, therapies, pharmacies, rehabilitation, and home care services, along with specialty and family medicine clinics. Ozarks Healthcare has rural locations across an eight-county service area and is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations.
Meagan Jones, FNP at the Ozarks Healthcare Zizzer Clinic, performs a physical on a student.
