Sports Medicine

Sports Medicine is not just for competitive athletes, but is best defined as a medical specialty that serves all individuals with musculoskeletal injury or pain who seek to be more active than their medical condition allows.

Brown Orthopaedics Sports Medicine utilizes a multidisciplinary approach to the prevention of injury, restoration of physical function, and performance enhancement among athletes and physically active individuals. We offer a coordinated program geared toward diagnosis, evaluation, operative/non-operative treatment, and education. The orthopaedic service is augmented by on-site physical therapy. Conditions treated may be due to injury, disease, or to the normal process of aging or disuse. The focus is on those injuries affecting, among other areas, the knee, shoulder, ankle, and elbow.

Brown Orthopaedics serves as the team physicians for all the local schools in the communities where we practice. Brown Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine Center, P.A. is committed to providing the best orthopaedic care for the student athletes of the area schools. We strive continuously to improve our service to both competitive and non-competitive athletes. As part of our commitment to excellence, Brown Orthopaedics employs certified athletic trainers who care for the student athletes at the high schools we serve. The line of communication to Brown Orthopaedics is always open through our trainers for any questions that arise.

WHAT IS AN ATC?

The educational background of a certified athletic trainer is the perfect preparation for assisting an orthopaedic surgeon. The knowledge of musculo-skeletal anatomy, function, and clinical experience in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders is virtually unmatched, even amongst medical students. I believe that ATCs are amongst the best physician extenders and I use them in that role daily.

DR. HOWARD BROWN

Athletic training is recognized as an allied health care profession by the American Medical Association. The certified athletic trainer has completed a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university and has passed a national certifying exam that includes written, practical and oral testing. More than 70 percent of certified athletic trainers have master’s degrees and all are required to obtain continuing education to maintain their certification. ATCs are educated and experienced in injury assessment, rehabilitation and prevention of musculoskeletal disorders in the physically active population.

The certified athletic trainer’s main function is keeping individuals participating
at a high functional level, whether in athletic, exercise or work-related activities.
Teamwork in health care is a proven concept, illustrated by the cooperative
relationship between certified athletic trainers and physicians. For decades, the two professions have teamed up to provide high-quality injury care and
prevention for athletes, whether the individual is a young athlete or a mature adult participating in physical activities, athletic training services are needed.
On the athletic field, or off, the partnership between physician and ATCs
benefits the public, athletic training and the physician’s practice.

INSURANCE COVERAGE
When you know the insurance coverage for an athlete and referral can be made directly to Brown Orthopaedics, please follow the procedure to make an appointment as previously outlined.

If a primary care physician visit is needed, please encourage the athlete to be referred to Brown Orthopaedics if orthopaedic care is required.

FOLLOWUP MEDICAL INFORMATION RELEASE
Any medical information given to a coach or trainer, in written or spoken form, is confidential. After referring an athlete to Brown Orthopaedics, the doctor may request that a copy of the written summary of the visit be sent to the coach or trainer. Frequently, the doctor will call the coach or trainer to discuss their findings. If further information is needed, contact the trainer, the doctor, or the doctor’s medical assistant.

TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT

• We are available to coaches, trainers, and athletes 24 hours a day,
  7 days a week for any orthopaedic problem sustained during the course of sports participation.
• Our offices are open 8:00 am to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday.
• Call our office to schedule an appointment at our office. We will make every effort to see the athlete that day or the following day.
• For after hour emergencies, please call our offices at (910) 891-2677 and the answering service will assist you in reaching the doctor on call.
• For all serious emergencies, please go directly to the closest emergency room.
• Please talk with our team doctor and/or their medical assistant or the athletic trainer to establish the procedure that works best for you when making appointments.
• When an athlete comes for an appointment, please be sure that a parent/guardian accompanies them to the office.

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
Appointments 910-891-2677 or 866-891-2677 (toll free)