New York, NY—July 27, 2016
The elite athletes participating in the 2016 Olympics are in peak physical condition and have the highest degree of training, yet injuries can occur, and the right diagnosis and treatment are critical. With that in mind, Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) has developed a Sports Emergency Curriculum for volunteer health personnel at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Five online video courses address a number of topics, including acute medical illness; on-site orthopedic emergencies; athletic injuries occurring on the field; the doping control process; and how to create an emergency action plan. Each offering is 10 to 20 minutes long.
"Elite athletes are susceptible to specific injuries and illnesses in the setting of competition, and the courses aim to present vital information to help clinicians provide appropriate and timely care and safely return Olympic athletes to play," said Scott A. Rodeo, MD, co-chief emeritus of the Sports Medicine Service at HSS and chairman of the Sports Medicine Committee for the United States Olympic Swim Team. Dr. Rodeo came up with the idea for the courses during discussions with Dr. João Grangeiro, the Brazilian physician who is chief medical officer for the 2016 Rio Games.
"As the largest sports medicine department in the U.S., HSS practitioners have extensive experience treating all types of athletes. Our surgeons and physicians cover numerous professional teams, as well as several Olympic sports. Thus, we wanted to share our rich experience and expertise," said Dr. Rodeo.
The overall goal was to provide a broad overview of fundamental sports medicine information, Dr. Rodeo added. At the same time, HSS wanted to develop a curriculum that could be used not just for the Olympics, but for health professionals covering other types of sporting events and treating athletes in their own community.
"The Sports Emergency Curriculum is among the offerings in Hospital for Special Surgery's eAcademy, intended to improve the quality of patient care and enhance safety," said Laura Robbins, DSW, senior vice president, Global & Academic Affairs at HSS. "Although designed with the Olympic volunteers in mind, these courses are free and open to all, and those who participate will receive Continuing Medical Education credit."
Clinicians who could benefit from the curriculum include orthopedists, emergency medicine physicians, sports medicine physicians, primary care doctors, family medicine physicians, general medicine practitioners, physiatrists, physical therapists, athletic trainers, podiatrists, prosthesis specialists, nurses, nurse practitioners and licensed massage therapists, according to Dr. Robbins.
The following topics will be covered:
• Common Medical Issues: Management During Competition Time
• Management of On-Site Orthopedic Emergencies: Lacerations/Open Wounds, Fractures and Joint Dislocations, Maxillofacial Trauma
• Medical Bag Items/Emergency Action Plan
• Doping Control Process and List of Prohibited Medications
• On-Field Management of Athletic Injuries
Hospital for Special Surgery has had a longstanding relationship with the U.S. Olympic Committee. In 2013, HSS was named the first National Medical Center of the USOC's National Medical Network. In this capacity, HSS physicians have seen and treated elite athletes from Team USA.
Anyone who would like more information or is interested in enrolling in the courses is invited to visit https://hss.classroom24-7.com/.
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