Frederick M. Azar, M.D. Discusses Bill to Protect Sports Medicine Specialists

A team doctor accompanies athletes across state lines to cover a game. When the excitement of the game passes, however, he or she learns that they are at risk for a lawsuit. But things are changing with the introduction of a new bill in Congress that would provide licensure clarity for sports medicine professionals. Dr. Frederick Azar, M.D., President of the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), tells OTW, “Sports medicine doctors often travel across state lines with their teams, and there are a lot of injuries during the game that require rapid evaluation. The team doctor is then faced with an unenviable dilemma: either deny their patient continuity of care from their own doctor who knows the athlete and his or her medical history, or treat their patient at significant professional and legal risk.”

“In the absence of licensure clarity, team doctors risk civil and criminal liability when they treat athletes and staff at away games, and their malpractice carriers would likely not cover the civil portion if there was an issue in a different state. Moreover, things have been rather ambiguous because of the differences in state laws. Thanks to this bill, doctors will not have to choose between their patient’s care and their ability to effectively practice medicine.”

Eureka! Decrease DVT Risk Without Blood Thinners

A multicenter study has found that a new compression device is just as effective at reducing the risk of thrombosis in hip and knee arthroplasty as any of the available drug protocols. Clifford Colwell, M.D. is an orthopedic surgeon with the Scripps Clinic in La Jolla, California. He tells OTW, “Hospitals have used compression devices for many years, but the motors were cumbersome and patients could not take them home. Therefore, physicians have relied on drug therapy; but drugs are met with bleeding issues.”

“The ActiveCare+S.F.T., which coordinates with a patient’s respiration phase, ensures the best blood flow to the right heart, also takes into consideration the compliance issue: the manufacturer put a LCD on front of the device to record hours of use. We enrolled over 3, 000 patients and found that the DVT (deep vein thrombosis) rates based on clinical outcomes were the same as those of those patients who took blood thinners—under 1%—and there was no bleeding.”

“Once you get the risk down to that degree, your chances of changing those numbers for the better are low. The next target is to get companies to compete in order to drive down costs. About three companies are trying to put out a portable device, so that will happen. This device costs about $200-$300 for the home use component if the insurance company does not pay. Medicare will not pay for prophylaxis, but this device could be considered more than prophylaxis because we’re treating an impending clot. It would be difficult to improve on the incidence of clots below the 1% level, but it could be done less expensively.”

Note: Dr. Colwell indicates that he was compensated to organize the trial, but that he has no financial interest in the product.

James Jagger, M.D. Wins SEC Team Physician of the Year

Team doctors are on a roll in Kentucky. Dr. James Jagger, an assistant professor in the University of Kentucky (UK) Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine of the, has been named Southeastern Conference Team Physician of the Year. In 2013, it was UK’s Darren Johnson, M.D. who earned the prestigious honor.

Dr. Jagger also serves as the UK chief of athletic medicine and head team physician for all UK sports. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati, Dr. Jagger is in his 14th year at Kentucky and has been a vital asset to the UK sports teams.

The Team Physician of the Year award is chosen by the athletic training staffs at Southeastern Conference (SEC) member institutions and is given annually to recognize a team physician who has contributed greatly to both his or her school’s teams and to the SEC sports community.