Sports medicine-specific offerings within orthopedic practices continue to open across the country, serving a wide variety of patients. Professional athletes, recreational active athletes, as well as anyone who injures themselves during everyday activities can seek treatment options at sports medicine practices. "Sports related injuries go beyond what we traditionally think of as ‘athlete injuries’ thus, as providers, we should design our processes and services accordingly," says Les Jebson, executive director at The University of Florida Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute in Gainesville, Florida. "It's a highly competitive field and an essential component to comprehensive orthopedic offerings."
These practices are increasingly designed as comprehensive sports medicine centers which can include ASC/operating rooms, physical therapy, sports psychology and performance. For hospitals or surgeons looking to build a new sports medicine center, Mr. Jebson offers five key elements for consideration.
1. Keep weekend hours. Part of maintaining a successful practice is providing convenient open hours for the patients. Keeping weekend hours creates more time for patients visit at their convenience, or typically after acute injuries. This is especially important during the fall sports season, Mr. Jebson says. "Everything is designed around the optimal patient experience."
2. Research reputable programs. Take a look at what other leading sports medicine practices nationally are doing and decide whether any of their practices would fit with your practice philosophy. Additionally, look at the different orthopedic services and devices and marketing efforts they use to get a sense of cutting-edge possibilities.
3. Have specific team affiliations. Become the primary healthcare provider for sports teams in the area. Not in name only, but functionally. This affiliation can give physicians the chance to work specifically with athlete-related issues as well as links the practice with their community. "Experience and quality comes through volume – have affiliations helps ensure this” says Mr. Jebson. "We take pride in being the actual healthcare provider for many of Florida high school, collegiate and professional sports athletes and teams."
4. Acquire latest technology. For anyone in the orthopedic industry, keeping up on the latest treatments available for patient healing and satisfaction is necessary, especially in diagnostic and interventional radiology and other ancillary resources. The UF Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute has one of the largest motion analysis laboratories in the country, and are researching and examining concussion management technology software systems and laser therapy systems as other resources in their patient care arsenal.
5. Attract well trained clinicians. Sports medicine facilities should include physicians who have completed a reputable fellowship in sports medicine at a recognized program. Additional focused training for athletic trainers, physical therapists and other members of the clinical care team should also be encouraged.
Learn more about UF Orthopedics and Rehabilitation.
Read other recent coverage on sports medicine.
-Orthopedic & Spine Industry Leader to Know: Dr. Jerry Magone of Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine
-Indiana’s Methodist Sports Medicine Expands Carmel Location
-RTI Biologics Develops Reimbursement Hotline for Sports Medicine
These practices are increasingly designed as comprehensive sports medicine centers which can include ASC/operating rooms, physical therapy, sports psychology and performance. For hospitals or surgeons looking to build a new sports medicine center, Mr. Jebson offers five key elements for consideration.
1. Keep weekend hours. Part of maintaining a successful practice is providing convenient open hours for the patients. Keeping weekend hours creates more time for patients visit at their convenience, or typically after acute injuries. This is especially important during the fall sports season, Mr. Jebson says. "Everything is designed around the optimal patient experience."
2. Research reputable programs. Take a look at what other leading sports medicine practices nationally are doing and decide whether any of their practices would fit with your practice philosophy. Additionally, look at the different orthopedic services and devices and marketing efforts they use to get a sense of cutting-edge possibilities.
3. Have specific team affiliations. Become the primary healthcare provider for sports teams in the area. Not in name only, but functionally. This affiliation can give physicians the chance to work specifically with athlete-related issues as well as links the practice with their community. "Experience and quality comes through volume – have affiliations helps ensure this” says Mr. Jebson. "We take pride in being the actual healthcare provider for many of Florida high school, collegiate and professional sports athletes and teams."
4. Acquire latest technology. For anyone in the orthopedic industry, keeping up on the latest treatments available for patient healing and satisfaction is necessary, especially in diagnostic and interventional radiology and other ancillary resources. The UF Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute has one of the largest motion analysis laboratories in the country, and are researching and examining concussion management technology software systems and laser therapy systems as other resources in their patient care arsenal.
5. Attract well trained clinicians. Sports medicine facilities should include physicians who have completed a reputable fellowship in sports medicine at a recognized program. Additional focused training for athletic trainers, physical therapists and other members of the clinical care team should also be encouraged.
Learn more about UF Orthopedics and Rehabilitation.
Read other recent coverage on sports medicine.
-Orthopedic & Spine Industry Leader to Know: Dr. Jerry Magone of Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine
-Indiana’s Methodist Sports Medicine Expands Carmel Location
-RTI Biologics Develops Reimbursement Hotline for Sports Medicine