title: Summary statement: appropriate medical care for the secondary school-aged athlete.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present the recommendations made by the Appropriate Medical Care for Secondary School-Aged Athletes Task Force and to summarize the subsequent monograph developed around 11 consensus points.
  
  
  METHODS
  The MEDLINE, CINAHL, and SportDiscus databases were searched for relevant literature regarding secondary school-aged athletes; health care administration; preparticipation physical examination; facilities; athletic equipment; emergency action planning; environmental conditions; recognition, evaluation, and treatment of injuries; rehabilitation and reconditioning; psychosocial consultation; nutrition; and prevention strategies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Organizations that sponsor athletic programs for secondary school-aged athletes should establish an athletic health care team to ensure that appropriate medical care is provided to all participants. The 11 consensus points provide a framework-one that is supported by the medical literature and case law-for the development of an athletic health care team and for assigning responsibilities to the team, administrators, and staff members of institutions sponsoring secondary school and club-level athletic programs.
authors.affiliation: Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Almquist
authors.forename: Tamara C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Valovich McLeod
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cavanna
authors.forename: Dave
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jenkinson
authors.forename: Andrew E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Lincoln
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Loud
authors.forename: Bart C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Portwood
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: Thomas S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Woods
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010808:Physical Examination; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012574:Schools; D013177:Sports