Recommendations and Guidelines for Appropriate Medical Coverage of Intercollegiate Athletics
Contained in Recommendations and Guidelines for AMCIA:
- Revised System Worksheet and accompanying narrative to assist individuals in applying the recommendations (Appendix A)
- Time Loss Injury Rate and Catastrophic Injury Rate classification tables (original Tables 7 and 11 respectively)
- # Additional/updated references where indicated
basis for recommendation
Recommendations were based on current literature and data pertaining to the topic. Included in the review were:
- Relevant published literature
- Guidelines and position statements from sports medicine organizations and associations
- Detailed institutional and conference studies (i.e., injury rates, treatements per injury rate)
- National surveys of current medical coverage
- Two-year AMCIA Injury surveillance data (Powell & Dompier, In Review)
- NCAA Inury Suveillance System
- NCAA Emergency Care and Coverage Survey
- NCAA Sports Medicine Handbook
- Legal cases and settlements related to athletic injuries
- National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Surveillance
definition of appropriate medical coverage
Appropriate medical coverage involves more than basic emergency care during sports partcipation. It encompasses the provision of many other health care services for the student-athlete. While emergency medical care and event coverage are critical, appropriate medical coverage also includes activities of ongoing daily health care of the student-athlete, such as:
- Determination of athletes’ readiness to participate, in conjunction with the team physician (i.e., pre-participation evaluation and post-injury/illness return)
- Risk management and injury prevention
- Recognition, evaluation and immediate treatment of athletic injuries/illnesses
- Rehabilitation and reconditioning of athletic injuries
- Psychosocial intervention and referral
- Nutritional aspects of injuries/illnesses
- Health care administration
- Professional development to maintain and improve knowledge and skills
AMCIA Recommendations and Guidelines (pdf)