DUTIES, ROLE, AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TEAM PHYSICIAN

The duties of the team physician to a team may be
outlined in a letter of agreement or contract between
the organization and physician.


The duties to the individual athlete should be considered
as with any other patient–physician relationship.


Balancing this duty to team and athlete must be considered
in every situation.


A consensus statement on the duties of the team
physician has been created by several organizations
and available in its entirety from these groups:
a. American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
b. American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
(AAOS)
c. American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
d. American Medical Society for Sports Medicine
(AMSSM)
e. American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine
(AOSSM)
f. American Osteopathic Academy of Sports
Medicine (AOASM)
• Qualifications from this consensus statement include
the following:
a. Medical or osteopathic degree with unrestricted
license to practice medicine
b. Fundamental knowledge of emergency care
regarding sporting events
c. Trained in CPR
d. Working knowledge of trauma, musculoskeletal
injuries and medical conditions affecting the athlete


Medical duties from this statement stated that the
team physician has ultimate responsibility to include
coordination of the preparticipation screening; management
of on-field injuries; medical management of
injury and illness; coordination of rehabilitation and
return to participation; coordination of medical care,
education, and documentation; and record keeping.


Administrative duties include establishing relationships,
education, development of a chain of command,
plan and train for emergencies, address
equipment and supply issues (as needed to provide
adequate medical coverage), provide for event coverage,
and assess environments concerns and playing
conditions.


Standard definitions of negligence generally apply.
The physician is held to what the reasonable, prudent
man would do. As guidelines become more
established, these may become the basis for duties
and responsibilities of the team physician.