The sports medicine field was one of the most affected specialties during the pandemic, primarily due to the cessation of elective surgeries earlier in the year and the widespread suspension of many sports at varying levels.
During an Aug. 26 session at Becker's Orthopedics + ASC Virtual Forum, Alexis Colvin, MD, professor in the department of orthopedic surgery at Mount Sinai in New York City and CMO of the U.S. Open, discussed how her practice has pivoted during the pandemic and key planning protocols to consider for the return to sports.
Here are two excerpts from the discussion, lightly edited for clarity. To view the full session on-demand, click here.
Question: How has your practice pivoted during the pandemic? What are some of the key lessons you've learned?
Dr. Alexis Colvin: One of the key things I learned was just how important it was for patients to be able to do physical therapy on their own at home because they didn't have the ability to do it as an outpatient. Providing resources for patients — not just through myself but also through physical therapy practices I work with — and being able to provide care for patients even though the paradigm has shifted in terms of the way we do so.
Q: As someone who is heavily involved in the planning of professional sports events, what are some key planning protocols to consider when mapping out the resumption of sports?
AC: I would emphasize the fact that it is 100 percent a team approach. It takes a number of things to be able to roll the plan out, including security, communications and marketing. The second most important thing is education. I have had a complete education in the planning of [the U.S. Open] — from planning the layout of where people are going to be, to testing, and then getting people back for testing. There really are a number of different roles that people need to play in order for something like this to happen successfully.