Workshop: Sports Medicine, A Culture of Collaboration

Within sports medicine, there is a natural collaboration between organ-focussed specialists and sports medicine physicians. This collaboration arises from (1) coverage of treatment of musculoskeletal problems as well as medically related problems; (2) the education of all doctors in sports medicine, and (3) the reality of clinical practice, which requires expeditious evaluation and treatment of all sports injuries.

A successful sports medicine center provides “one-stop care” for sports injuries for all patients. It must coordinate care of all injured athletes, and it should provide patient access within a week. Part of the profile is to provide high-quality care by managing the entire spectrum  for athletes.  “Achievement” is a second aspect of sports medicine. Orthopaedic and primary care sports medicine physicians coordinate care together and include other surgical and medical subspecialists as necessary. Counselling and detection of risk factors comprise the third “leg” of sports medicine. Active middle-aged patients desire both an understanding of their condition as well as rapid evaluation, treatment, and resumption of their active lifestyles.  

Multi-disciplinary sports medicine is based on  mutual respect of each subspecialty’s strengths. At present, our faculty includes five orthopaedic and trauma surgeons and rehab specialists. Our three primary care sports medicine facility includes three sports physicians. In addition, five research faculty, support our University center for Sports, motion and health for clinical research studies, comprising 6 PhD students.