WHAT IS A TEAM PHYSICIAN?

Very little has been published about the duties and responsibilities of a team physician and no formal
studies exist as to the qualifications and skills necessary to be effective in these duties.


The following consensus statement from the
American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
defines the unique role of a team physician:
The Team Physician must have unrestricted medical
license and be an MD or DO who is responsible for
treating and coordinating the medical care of the athletic
team members. The principal responsibility of the
team physician is to provide for the well-being of individual
athletes—enabling each to realize his or her full
potential. The team physician should possess special
proficiency in the care of musculoskeletal injuries and
medical conditions encountered in sports. The team
physician also must actively integrate medical expertise
with other healthcare providers, including medical
specialists, athletic trainers, and allied health professionals.
The team physician must ultimately assume
responsibility within the team structure for making
medical decisions that affect the athlete’s safe participation.
(Herring et al, 2000b)


Doctors from many specialties serve in the role of team
physician with primary care physicians comprising the
majority. The most common fields of medicine with the
percentage of the total in parentheses is family practice
(25.5%), orthopedic surgery (16.2%), osteopathic medicine
(10.9%), internal medicine (10.1%), general practice
(6.3%), pediatrics (5.4%), emergency medicine
(4.9%), general urgery (4.5%), obstetrics/gynecology
(2.8%), cardiology (2.0%), and all others (11.5%)
(Melion, Walsh, Shelton, 1997).


The team physician is part of a team of professionals
that cares for the athletes and contributes to their success
by maximizing training and competition preparation.
He or she also assists by accurately diagnosing
ailments and promptly, yet completely, rehabilitating
injuries to get athletes back to competition as quickly
and safely as possible. In addition to expertise in the
common medical conditions encountered in athletes,
other necessary qualities include: flexibility and availability,
good communication skills, a desire to educate,
and an understanding of injury prevention
principles (Herring et al, 2000b).