Introduction
The provision of Medicine services is central to the role of the Institute. Sports medicine incorporates the total medical care of athletes from pre-participation medical screening through to management at consultant level of appropriate illnesses or injuries. These services include treatment and rehabilitation for injuries occurring during training and competition, medical problems such as asthma, infections, diabetes etc., access to radiological exams and other diagnostic tests as well as sports physiotherapy services.
The Institute has also established a centralised electronic medical records system, IZone. The purpose of the system is similar to the medical records systems (charts) that are kept by a doctor or hospital for any patient that attends. The system has been set up in conjunction with the medical staff of the various NGBs and where necessary customised to the needs of a sport. Presently three sports are using the system Boxing, Rowing and Paralympic sports. The Institute hopes to make this system available to a greater number of sports by the end of the year.
Further information on Performance Medicine services provided by the Institute can be found in the following sections
Sports Medicine
The medical care of athletes is one of the most challenging in sports medicine. It requires specific sports medicine skills, general medical knowledge, knowledge of the specific sport covered, and communication and management skills not usually required in everyday sports medicine practice. There is a national network of general medical practitioners, sports medicine physicians, orthopaedic surgeons, rheumatologists, cardiologists, respiratory medicine physicians and many other medicial or surgical specialists and consultants.
For a list of doctors and medical consultants who are Fellows of the RCSI Faculty of Sports & Exercise Medicine click here.
The role of the National Governing Body Medical Officer (NGB MO) is central to the efficient running of the sports medical service. The NGB HP Medical Officer heads the sports medicine team, which may comprise a variety of paramedical professionals, such as additional medical doctors, physiotherapists, sports scientists, dieticians, sports psychologists, masseurs, physical trainers and podiatrists. The principal responsibility of the National Governing Body (NGB) High Performance (HP) Medical Officer is to provide for the well-being of individual athletes enabling them to realise their full sporting potential.
The NGB Medical Officer also liaises closely with the Institute who is available at any stage during an injury/illness to provide advice, support and if necessary arrange further management options to ensure that all Institute athletes receive support and the best possible care of their injury/illness. For more information on the role of the High Performance Medical Officer's role click here.
Physiotherapy
Chartered physiotherapists use their skills in treating injured athletes from the management of acute and ongoing injuries (rehabilitation), to the assessment and planning of an overall programme to prevent injury (prehabilitation). Chartered physiotherapists work closely with fellow medical and sports science personnel as well as coaches and strength and conditioning providers to provide holistic support to athletes.
Currently National Governing Bodies of sport (NGBs) are developing networks of sports specific physiotherapists to work with high performance athletes. In most sports a High Performance Lead Physiotherapist will be appointed to coordinate physiotherapy services in that sport. This will ensure that the highest quality of physiotherapy care is given to all athletes. For more information on the role of the High Performance Lead Physiotherapist's role click here.
Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports Medicine (CPSM) is a special interest group within the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists (ISCP) which concentrates on sports medicine issues. In order to access physiotherapy services an athlete must use a Chartered Physiotherapist and the physiotherapist must report to the sport's Lead Physiotherapist.
To find a Chartered Physiotherapist in Sports Medicine click here.
Specialist Medical Services
The Institute will hold a small contingency fund for surgery and significant other medical expenses that may be incurred by athletes. As this is a limited fund certain criteria apply in cases where there is a request to the Institute for payment of medicine or science services for a carded athlete which is not covered by the performance plan budget of a sport e.g. medical surgery. Radiological imaging e.g. x-rays, ultrasound, MRI, and blood tests are covered within the sport's performance plan budget.
Any claim being made for contingency funding must be made well in advance (excluding unforeseen medical emergencies). The request must be made in writing by the Performance Director and include a brief medical history, the proposed procedure and an estimate of costs. The claim will then be considered by the IIS and the final outcome will be made in writing to the sport / doctor.
To access this fund please contact your Performance Director or Medical Services Coordinator.
IZone
The Irish Institute of Sport has established a centralised electronic medical records system. The purpose of the system is similar to the medical records systems (charts) that are kept by a doctor or hospital for any patient that attends. The system records and stores demographic information, injury and illness histories and treatments of elite Irish athletes.
The system has been set up in conjunction with the medical staff of the various NGBs and where necessary customised to the needs of a sport. Presently three sports are using the system Boxing, Rowing and Paralympic sports.
The aim of the system is to improve the medical management of an athlete by enabling authorised medical staff to have access to an athlete's medical record and to communicate with one another while working both in Ireland and abroad.
The system is accessible via the web to authorised users only so that the doctor or physiotherapist can have access to up-to-date medical information about the athlete. The system also allows users to message one another thus improving communication between the medical staff.
Information stored will include:
- Basic demographic data.
- Significant contact information.
- Injury and illness history.
- Medication and vaccination history.
- Treatment history.
The data can only be accessed by authorised medical staff using unique usernames and passwords.
Athletes need to sign a consent form before their information will be entered into the system. If you do not sign the consent form your medical information will not be uploaded onto the system. Consent maybe withdrawn at anytime or it can be withheld in respect of any part of the athlete's medical information. Withdrawal or withholding of consent will not affect the athlete's access to funding, medical care or access to other service provision. The athletes NGB high performance team will be informed of the decision.
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