OC athletic department announces partnership with Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City

Oklahoma Christian University’s athletic department announced Tuesday a new partnership with Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City.

In a formal welcome reception Tuesday night, Mercy’s Chief Administrative Officer David Argueta said Mercy will be the “new official medical provider” for Oklahoma Christian.

“On behalf of our entire ministry, we want to thank you for joining us to celebrate the new partnership between Oklahoma Christian University and Mercy – where we’re proud to be your new official medical provider,” Argueta said.

Oklahoma Christian Athletic Director David Lynn said he believes Mercy works under the same ideals as the university to make students feel welcome and cared for.

“We are blessed to have an opportunity to work closely with Mercy to help provide the best possible student athlete experience in NCAA Division II athletics,” Lynn said. “Mercy has a very similar vision for how they treat and care for people. I have always felt that’s what makes OC special and I see that same characteristic in Mercy. I look forward to seeing the new and exciting things that emerge from this partnership.”

Mercy, throughout previous seasons, has partnered with individual sports at Oklahoma Christian to offer strength and conditioning training, nutrition training and medical services. However, the new partnership encompasses the entire athletic department, meaning all programs will work with Mercy.

Currently, athletes travel to the Mercy Edmond I-35 location for training, but plans exist to bring the Mercy staff to campus for easier access to athletes.

For the medical aspect of the partnership, Mercy Clinic will work in tandem with Oklahoma Christian’s athletic trainers. Dr. Jesse Campbell, chief administrative officer for Mercy Clinic in Oklahoma, said Mercy physicians will step in to treat or diagnose after the initial examination by the athletic trainers.

“Our health system works a lot like a team for our patients,” Campbell said. “Mercy’s sports medicine physicians are an entire care team helping student athletes stay healthy, on the sidelines and excelling at the sport they love. We are proud to partner with Oklahoma Christian to bring this innovative model of care to their players.”

The partnership announcement concluded with a presentation of an Oklahoma Christian/Mercy jersey to President John deSteiguer and Lynn.