TIME REQUIREMENTS OF A TEAM PHYSICIAN

A team physician must have an office schedule that
can accommodate athletes with urgent and time sensitive
medical needs.


Most team physicians have designated training room
time each week, at least one to two evenings, where
they can evaluate new and follow-up existing injuries
of team members. This is an especially important setting
in which to communicate with the trainer on the
rehabilitation progress of athletes’ injuries (Herring
et al, 2001). An athlete’s behavior and responses can
vary widely depending on the familiarity of the environment;
hence, training rooms should ideally be
held in the athlete’s “native environment,” at a location
convenient to athletes and close to practice or
training facilities.



Team physicians often neglect team practices. While
it is not necessary that all practices be attended, occasional,
brief appearances during practice will allow
the physician to gain insight into the environment and
conditions in which the athletes train, the team’s training
regimen, and interactions between coaches and
players. A better appreciation of all these factors can
prove invaluable in the physician’s medical decision
making. Additionally, brief appearances at practice
help the physician build collegial relationships with
coaches and players, establishing his or her role as a
part of the team and distinguishing the physician from
other officials, support staff, and media representatives
who only participate in game-day activities.


Amount of time spent at the actual competition
depends on the team physician’s role and availability,
as well as state laws and regulations of the governing
athletic association. Some laws mandate that a physician
be in attendance for every game. Other laws
allow nonphysician medical personnel, such as an athletic
trainer, to cover an event with on-call physician
backup (Herring et al, 2000a).


A doctor who is the team physician for an entire institution
must decide whether to attend all the games for
a few teams, or to attend a few games for every team.
We recommend that team physicians attend at least
part of one practice and at least one game for each
team they supervise. Providing good team medicine is
very difficult without observing the interactions and
conditions of play and practice.