2 Communicating with Your Team Physician MATS Professional Education Conference Phillip J. Adler, MA, AT, ATC Manager, Sports Medicine Program Spectrum Health Medical Group June 6, 2014

3 Objectives Importance of Effective Communication How to Facilitate Communication Resources for the AT Group Discussion-What are we doing?

4 Why A Team Physician? PUBLIC HEALTH CODE (EXCERPT) Act 368 of Definitions.Sec ( 1) As used in this part: (a) "Athletic trainer" means an individual engaged in the practice of athletic training. (b) "Practice of athletic training" means the treatment of an individual for risk management and injury prevention, the clinical evaluation and assessment of an individual for an injury or illness, or both, the immediate care and treatment of an individual for an injury or illness, or both, and the rehabilitation and reconditioning of an individual's injury or illness, or both, as long as those activities are within the rules promulgated under section and performed under the direction and supervision of an individual licensed under part 170 or 175. The practice of athletic training does not include the practice of physical therapy, the practice of medicine, the practice of osteopathic medicine and surgery, the practice of chiropractic, or medical diagnosis or treatment. Part 170: Part 175:

5 Why A Team Physician? - EBBP Almquist, J., McLeod, T., Cavanna, A., Jenkinson, D., Lincoln, A. E., Loud, K., Peterson, C., Reynolds, J., & Woods, T. S. (2008). Summary statement: Appropriate medical care for the secondary school-aged athlete. Journal of Athletic Training, 43(4),  Establish an Athletic Health Care Team Casa et al. (2013). The inter-association task force for preventing sudden death in secondary school athletics programs: Best- practices recommendations. Journal of Athletic Training. 48(4):546–553 doi: /  EAP should include discussion and oversight of consulting physicians Courson, R. et al. (2013, July 16). Inter-Association consensus statement on best practices for sports medicine management for secondary schools and colleges. Retrieved from the National Athletic Trainers’ Association website:  Directly mentions responsibility of the team physician for best practices. McLeod, T.C.V., Bliven, K.C.H., Lam, K.C., Bay, R.C., Valier, A.R.S., & Parsons, J.T. (2013). The national sports safety in secondary schools benchmark (N4SB) study: Defining athletic training practice characteristics. Journal of Athletic Training, 48(4),  Reporting/Upline arrangements…80% report to non-medical professional (Athletic director).

6 Why A Team Physician? 1.) Collaboration 2.) Streamlined Delivery of Healthcare Services 3.) Educational Opportunity

7 Importance of Effective Communication 1.) Do you know your physician? a. Office/Surgery/Personal Schedule? b. Who assists him/her? c. Protocols? Preferences? SOP? 2.) What is your communication plan?

8 How to Facilitate Communication 1.) Meet w/ Physician and Staff 2.) Reach out to local involved community docs. 3.) Recruit and train your own!

9 Resources for the AT 1.) Telemedicine 2.) PerfectServe 3.) Injury Hotline 4.) Private Lines/Access

10 Group Discussion ■ What are some of your physician expectations? ■ How do you communicate? ■ What resources do you have? ■ What works vs. what doesn’t work?