96 Physicians versed in sports medicine may want to look to industry, where primary care skills are increasingly in demand. Aggressive rehab methods honed on athletes can also return workers to the job more quickly.
Physicians can expand their practices while helping employers save on worker's compensation costs.
T o hover on the sidelines at the local high school football game, black bag in hand, has traditionally placed the sports medicine physician in a classic win-win situation. Though a volunteer, the physician is immersed in the pure practice of sports medicine. And by providing a visible and committed presence at the games, he or she can attract not only the players but also their family members as new patients. But with the growth of managed care and restrictions on patient choice, many physicians are finding that being the first to treat an athlete doesn't always progress to providing follow-up care. Instead, Wilkerson and a handful of other sports medicine physicians are turning to industry as a way to expand their practices.