Robert Sandmeier, MD, board-certified in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine, practices at The Portland Clinic in Tigard, Ore. He earned his medical degree from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Dr. Sandmeier completed his orthopedic residency at the University of Vermont in Burlington and holds a sports medicine fellowship from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. He specializes in meniscus injuries and ACL reconstruction. Here he discusses the advantage of a team's perspectives, the need to be prepared for change and the importance of listening to patients. Q: Why did you choose to focus on orthopedics and sports medicine?
Dr. Robert Sandmeier: I became interested in this area of medicine because of my own injuries and interest in taking care of active people.
Q: How do you use a team approach when deciding on a course of care for a patient?
RS: Different people have different perspectives on what the problem may be and what the options are for treatment. A physical therapist will see things that a surgeon would not and vice versa. A good personal trainer will pick up on issues that are not seen by regular medical people because that is not how they are used to looking at people. Having a team gives you eyes that look at problems from multiple different perspectives.
Q: What do you think is the most important step to take in providing quality patient care?
RS: Really trying to listen to what the patient's primary complaint about the problem is. You need to avoid going after something that you see without paying attention to the primary thing that the patient "sees."
Q: What advice do you have for physicians just beginning a career in orthopedics and sports medicine?
RS: Pick a part of medicine that focuses on the issue are really interested in and excited about. Do not expect that the mechanics of what you actually do at work will stay anything like they are now.
Q: What do you think is the most important issue orthopedic and sports medicine specialists should be aware of?
RS: Orthopedic, and in particular sports medicine, specialists have a very large role in the things that are frequently considered primary care problems. Much of what we do allows people to stay active and therefore to maintain a healthy weight and general health. Often doing things to enhance your patient's general health will take care of their "sports medicine" problems as well.
A series of articles featuring orthopedic surgeons on issues ranging from personal background to current research developments is published weekly. We invite all orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine specialists to participate.
If you are interested please email cpallardy@beckershealthcare.com.
More Articles on Sports Medicine:
10 Orthopedic Surgeons Recently Treating Professional Athletes
AAOS Honors Iowa Orthopedic Society for Research Foundation
Orthopedic Collaboration & Customizing Patient Care: Q&A With Dr. Robert Tait of The Orthopaedic Institute of Henderson