In the development of a Sports Medicine Medical Team, team physicians are tasked with supporting athletic performance while optimizing the comprehensive and holistic care of the athlete. In order to best promote the health and well-being of our athletes, the formation of a diverse and agile team is critical.
Team Members
“The acquisition of highly qualified, motivated, and hard-working individuals is essential in providing high quality and efficient health care to the athlete”
- Freddie Fu, MD
Although orthopaedic sports medicine surgeons may serve as the medical director for a team or organization, the true foundation of a successful sports medicine team is the certified athletic trainer. In addition to diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal injuries, the athletic trainer serves as the liaison between coaches, players, physicians, parents, and agents. Importantly, they often have a regular and longitudinal relationship with teams and a high level of player trust.1
Although not typically involved in the day-to-day medical operations, the medical director should have access to an array of specialists to address various athlete needs. An understanding of injury epidemiology within the specific sport will inform the most pertinent specialists which may include:
With recent studies demonstrating that up to 34% of current elite athletes experience symptoms of anxiety and depression, team physicians must be both approachable and available to our players. Once a need is identified, we must assist in swift access to mental health professionals (sports psychologists, licensed therapists, and/or psychiatrists). Additionally, sharing resources with all athletes at the start of the season will help decrease any stigma an individual may associate with seeking out mental health services.2
Administrative Duties
The authors recommend committees inclusive of diverse expertise and experience review and update health and safety protocols annually. Protocols of importance include:
Communication & Leadership
Structured communication is the pillar of an effective medical team. Committees (health & safety policy, for example) should commit to a frequency of meeting based on the league/team’s needs. Similarly, the core medical team should have regularly scheduled meetings to review ongoing and new injuries, confirm treatment plans and player plans of care. Smaller break-out sessions are often useful to coordinate care with a specialist.
Setting a positive tone, facilitating engagement by communicating status updates and seeking the professional opinions of your team members, creating a safe space for others to ask questions and express concerns, and refocusing the team as needed will ensure that your sports medicine team is a high performance organization with a positive culture.4,5
Game Day Checklist
On game day, the sports medicine team must arrive early to meet with game officials and any pertinent onsite staff. Prior to the start of the game, a “time out” should be performed to review the EAP and discuss any concerns. Key elements of the EAP include identifying an access point for EMS vehicles as well as the location of on-site treatment areas. Further, medical equipment, such as the automated external defibrillator, must be checked to ensure functionality. Review of game day injury protocols enables the medical team to execute tasks while preserving player safety and delivering quality on-site medical care.
After the game concludes, it is critical to decompress and review the day’s successes as well as areas for improvement. This activity encourages a dynamic team environment that seeks continuous improvement.
Summary
With thoughtful team construction, diligent preparation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and strong leadership, you can ensure that your sports medicine team is prepared to successfully care for all athletes.
Authors:
Catherine A. Logan, MD, MBA, MSPT is an Orthopaedic Surgeon at Colorado Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics in Denver, CO. She is the Medical Director and Head League Physician for the Premier Lacrosse League and a Team Physician for the US Ski & Snowboard teams.
Matthew S. Fury, MD is a chief resident in orthopaedic surgery at the Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program. He will be completing a fellowship in Sports Medicine at Hospital for Special Surgery in 2022-2023.
References:
Lessons from Health Care. 2020. MIT Sloan Management Review, 61, 3,
Pp. 14-18.
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