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The Boston Public School Sports Medicine Initiative
is an innovative program designed to provide high quality
medical coverage to the football teams of the Boston Public
Schools (BPS). Orthopaedic surgery residents from the
Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program (HCORP)
have worked closely with Children's Hospital Boston's Sports
Medicine Division to provide this physician coverage. The
Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association mandates
that a physician, a licensed athletic trainer or an emergency
medical technician (EMT) be on site for all football games.
Prior to the initiative, only an EMT, who is not trained in
sports medicine, was present at BPS football games. EMTs are
limited in their scope of practice and their ability to determine
whether or not an athlete is able to return to competition following
an injury. Often coaches were left in an uncomfortable
role of determining whether a player can return to play, be
withheld from competition, or seek additional medical treatment.
Over the last eight years, the residents of HCORP have
been the solution to this problem by providing excellent orthopedic
sports medicine care and allowing coaches and players to
focus on the game. In addition to on-field physician coverage,
the residents provide pre and post game evaluations, treatments
and make appropriate referrals as needed. Through this
Initiative, these physician services are provided at no cost to
the city of Boston.
The residents of HCORP have worked hard to help provide
a safe environment in which young athletes can participate in
organized sports. The residents have helped prevent and treat
sports injuries that can potentially rob promising athletes of
opportunities and benefits inherent in playing organized sports.
Research has demonstrated that participation in sports is associated
with decreased involvement with drugs, violence and sexual
activities. Athletes also benefit from improved self-esteem, a
strong camaraderie with teammates, and leadership skills.
Additionally, the HCORP residents are able to gain valuable
on-field experience in managing athletic injuries. This
management experience is much different than typical resident
training in Harvard affiliated emergency departments and
clinics. Residents also work closely with the licensed athletic
trainers and EMTs present at games, and act as colleagues and
instructors to other medical professions who have students
and residents participating in game coverage. Undergraduate
athletic trainers from Boston University and residents from
Boston Medical Center's Family Practice Program are present
at an increasing number of games and are excited to be
involved and learn about the evaluation and treatment of
orthopedic conditions of the injured athlete.
Since the inception of the Initiative, HCORP resident involvement
has continued to increase. Over the last eight years
390 games have been covered by 101 residents. Over the past
two seasons alone (2008-2009) residents were able to provide
physician coverage for a record 125 varsity football contests.
This past season 19 residents provided physician coverage for
60 of the 63 scheduled BPS home football games.
Under the leadership of Dr. Lyle Micheli, director of
Children's Sports Medicine Division, Dr. Mininder Kocher,
assistant director, Brian FitzGerald, BSN, ATC, LAT and the
commitment of residents from the HCORP, this program will
continue to grow and positively impact the young athletes
of Boston Public Schools as well as continue to broaden the
training experience of HCORP residents. This remarkable
program has been made possible by generous funding from
The Roger and Michele Marino Foundation.
If you would like any information on the Boston Public
Schools Sports Medicine Initiative, please contact; Brian
FitzGerald, BSN, ATC, LAT, Division of Sports Medicine,
Children's Hospital at 617-355-6534 or e-mail: brian.fitzgerald@
childrens.harvard.edu
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