Looking for a Sports Medicine Doctor?

Looking for a Sports Medicine Doctor?

Important Questions to Ask.

Sports shoes are not created equally. All cars are not created equally. They are huge differences between models, brands, etc. There are also large differences between sports medicine doctors. This huge diversity creates numerous problems for someone looking for a qualified professional to treat sports related injuries, and preventing injuries from occurring In order to find the best sports medicine doctor to meet your individual needs and concerns, use these questions when looking for a doctor.

1. How long have you been treating athletes?

This should be several years, as you are looking for someone with real-world experience and expertise, not just textbook/classroom knowledge. It is basically understood that it takes at least three years of experience to begin to become proficient in Sports Medicine. If you do decide to use a new doctor to the field--they may be cheaper, or have a schedule that better fits your own--they will probably also bring enthusiasm and determination to work closely with you, which is a good thing. But they should also be willing to consult with more experienced doctors.

It is also wise to ask your doctor if they are currently the official team physician for any teams in your area. If they say yes, ask what teams so that you can contact the coach for a reference. Remember, if the coach does not give a positive reference that is still an excellent opportunity of information. Find out exactly why they do not recommend the doctor you are considering so that you can gather as many facts as possible.

Ask your potential doctor if they are a member of any special organizations such as the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine. Memberships into these groups typically require credentials to be verified in order for acceptance, this helps to keep only the better doctors amongst membership ranks.

You should also ask if your doctor has attended any specialized training courses. Some examples are the American College of Sports Medicine team physician training course as well as the course that is offered by the US Olympic Committee. If they have not attended any special programs this is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is worth noting for your own piece of mind.

A very important question that you should ask is what percentage of the practice is pertaining to sports medicine. Unless the doctor is a sports medicine specialist, you should not expect to hear 100% and even if they are a specialist, they are unlikely to really have a 100% level. Most practices are as low as only 30%

Ask if the doctor has any particular specialties. For example, there are doctors who specialize in orthopedic surgery, as well as various other medical fields. If you are just looking for a basic sports medicine doctor then often choosing a family practice or even an internal medicine doctor is the best decision. From the primary doctor that you choose you can receive referrals to other doctors as they become necessary.

Your final consideration should be looking for a doctor that is willing to meet with you before you filling out any paperwork. This means that they should be willing to do an interview, preferably free where you can talk to them for a few minutes to learn about them, their experience, and their practice. Many doctors do this, especially those who are pediatricians. This means that your sports medicine doctor should be willing to have an initial interview as well. Using this to your benefit means you can ask your questions and see how comfortable you are before you actually need their services.