High School sports team provider

[weaverj04]

Hi there! I have a question for anyone that may know anymore info about this topic. I was approached by the high school that I went to growing up about becoming their sports team provider. The physician that they had working for them for a number of years suddenly informed them that she would not be doing it this year. I have already contacted the PSPA (Pennsylvania’s state society) to see if there are any rules or regulations in regard to this, but wanted to throw this out there to see if there are any other PAs out there doing this, know of any PAs that are doing this or have any info about this. I would have to go to the football games on Friday nights and if anyone was injured I would oversee the Athletic Director and Paramedics on scene. Does anyone know if this is possible for a PA to do? Or are there any PAs out there that are a sport team provider? Like I said, I’m waiting to hear back from the PSPA, but figured I’d get some faster answers in here for the time being until I heard back from them. I also plan on running this by my office manager and the physician’s that I work for once I get more info. Any input would be great!!

[Nonlegit]

That would be really cool if possible. 

[Febrifuge]

I don't have much actual knowledge, but my instincts are telling me that one of two things will need to be true:

 

1) your existing SP is going to have to be cool with taking on the responsibililty for being connected to the HS football team, and delegating the responsibility to you, or

 

2) some other SP who's already connected to the school and the team (maybe the previous athletic director who can't do it this year?) is going to have to be cool with establishing a supervision/ collaboration agreement with you.

 

I'd have to look into the specifics about how all that works, in your state.

[Acebecker]

I was an ATC in a previous life.  That has made attending/covering sporting events a no brainer for me.  My SP is totally down with it as long as I document charts for any patients beyond a splinter or "I gave them a bottle of water." 

 

Your SP needs to be on board, as above. 

 

The bigger concern, though, is this: do you have experience putting a patient in full helmet and pads onto a long spine board?  Full spinal precautions?  When do you remove helmet and/or pads?  How do you remove helmet and/or pads?  What are you going to do with concussion patients?  How about environmental emergencies?  Do you know the guidelines for lightning distance and the amount of time between strikes before you are allowed to resume a game?  There are tons of things not taught in PA school that you need to know if you're going to be responsible for those athletes. 

 

Use caution.  Lots of it.