Medical Services
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. The Institute works closely with doctors and physiotherapists in developing systems, structures and protocols to ensure that athletes and sports receive the best support possible.
To date the Institute, in conjunction with NGBs and service providers have produced guidelines on
- Reporting Protocol for Injury / Illness
- How to claim support under the Medical Contingency Fund
- High Performance Medical Officer's role
- High Performance Lead Physiotherapist's role
Reporting Protocol for Injury / Illness
Appropriate reporting of an injury/illness is necessary to ensure its proper management in high performance Irish athletes. This enables NGB's high performance medical team and the Institute respond promptly to any issues that may arise.
These guidelines act as a template for NGB medical teams to adopt to best suit their particular circumstances. The timelines in this protocol are suggested guidelines and should be adapted to best suit the sport. This is a Reporting System Protocol for out-of-competition injury. Injuries during competition must be reported immediately to the NGB high performance medical team at the event.
Download:
Reporting Protocol for Injury / Illness
Medical Contingency Fund
The Institute holds a small contingency fund for surgery and significant other medical expenses that may be incur throughout the year. As this fund is limited the Sport Ireland Institute has introduced criteria 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.
Criteria
An application will not be considered unless the medical condition is being treated as per a Reporting System Protocol for an Injury or Illness (accepted by the Institute).
The following criteria will be used to assess a request for contingency funding:
Service related
- Nature of service requested:
- Impact on performance - improvement / maintenance.
- Scientific data to support proposed management.
- Appropriateness of proposed treatment to specific case. - Cost of service requested.
- Availability of service.
- Length of treatment / service.
Athlete / Sport related
- Athlete carding level.
- Career prospects / sporting potential.
- Statement of financial needs.
- Athlete medical status.
Any claim being made for contingency funding must be made well in advance (excluding unforeseen medical emergencies) and must be made in writing. The claim will then be considered by the Sport Ireland Institute and the final outcome will be made in writing to the sport / doctor.
Possible outcomes
- Payment in full of requested service.
- Part payment of service requested - athlete +/ NGB pay balance.
- Decline request for service.
- Consider alternate management.
A copy of the Medical Contingency claim form is available to download.. You can also download the criteria for accessing the Medical Contingency fund below.
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High Performance Medical Officer & Lead Physiotherapist's role
The principal responsibility of the NGB HP Medical Officer and Lead Physiotherapist is to provide for the well-being of individual athletes enabling them to realise their full sporting potential.
The NGB HP Medical Officer and Lead Physiotherapist needs to have the ability to work within and fit in the organisational structure of the sports high performance system. It is important to understand that in this situation their roles are ones of support, namely to assist team members to perform to the maximum of their ability at all times. It is also important that they maintain their own autonomy in their role of caring for the athletes.
The NGB HP Medical Officer heads the sports medicine team and liaises closely with the Lead Physiotherapist and other professionals such as additional doctors and physiotherapists, sports scientists, dieticians, sports psychologists, masseurs, physical trainers and podiatrists.
The documents below outlines the Irish Institute of Sport's best practice guidelines for Medical Officers and Lead Physiotherapists involved in high performance sport in Ireland.
Downloads
High Performance Medical Officer's role
High Performance Lead Physiotherapist's role