Issues for the Traveling Team Physician

Abstract

This article outlines the value of having the team physician traveling with athletes to away venues for competitions or training sessions. At present, this travel presents several issues for the team physician who crosses state lines for taking care of the athletes. In this article, these issues and their possible remedies are discussed. A concern for the travelling team physician is practicing medicine while caring for the team in a state where the physician is not licensed. Another issue can be the transportation of controlled substances in the course of providing optimal care for the team athletes. These two issues are regulatory and legislative issues at both the state and federal levels. On the practical side of being a team physician, the issues of emergency action plans, supplies, and when to transport injured or ill patients are also reviewed.

Keywords

traveling team physician - state licensure for team physicians - out-of-state team physician

• References

• 1 Congress.Gov. H.R.921-Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act of 2015 . Available at: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/921 . Accessed May 24, 2016
• 2 U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration, Office of Diversion Control . Available at: http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/ . Accessed May 24, 2016
• 3 Congress.Gov. H.R.3014 - Medical Controlled Substances Transportation Act of 2015 . Available at: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/3014 . Accessed May 24, 2016