Paralympic medical services for the 2010 paralympic winter games.
OBJECTIVE
To present the planning and medical encounters for the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.


METHODS
Prospective medical encounter study.


METHODS
2010 Paralympic Winter Games.


METHODS
Athletes, coaches, officials, workforce, volunteers, and media.


METHODS
Sport type: alpine, Nordic, and sledge hockey and curling. Participant type: athlete, workforce, and spectators. Terrain and speed.


METHODS
Medical encounters entered in database at competitive (alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, sledge hockey, and curling) and noncompetitive (Whistler and Vancouver Polyclinics, presentation centers, opening and closing ceremonies, media center, Paralympic Family Hotel) venues.


RESULTS
Forty-two nations participated with 1350 Paralympic athletes, coaches, and officials. There were 2590 accredited medical encounters (657 athletes, 25.4%; 682 International Federation/National Paralympic Committee officials, 26.3%; 57 IPC, 2.2%; 8 media, 0.3%; 1075 workforce, 41.5%; 111 others, 4.3%) and 127 spectator encounters for a total of 2717 encounters. During the preopening period medical services saw 201 accredited personnel. The busiest venues during the Paralympic Games were the Whistler (1633 encounters) and Vancouver (748 encounters) Polyclinics. Alpine, sledge hockey, and curling were the busiest competitive venues. The majority of medical encounters were musculoskeletal (44.6%, n = 1156). Medical services recorded 1657 therapy treatments, 977 pharmaceutical prescriptions dispensed, 204 dental treatments, 353 imaging examinations (more than 50% from alpine skiing), and 390 laboratory tests. There were 24 ambulance transfers with 7 inpatient hospitalizations for a total of 24 inpatient days and 4 outpatient visits.


CONCLUSIONS
The mandate to have minimal impact on the health services of Vancouver and the Olympic Corridor while offering excellent medical services to the Games was accomplished. This data will be valuable to future organizing committees.
*VANOC Medical Services, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada †Allan McGavin Sports Medicine Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada ‡International Paralympic Committee, Medical Committee, Bonn, Germany.
Jack
J
Taunton
Michael
M
Wilkinson
Rick
R
Celebrini
Robert
R
Stewart
Treny
T
Stasyniuk
Peter
P
Van de Vliet
Stuart
S
Willick
Josep Martinez
JM
Ferrer
D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004864:Equipment and Supplies; D006285:Health Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006688:Hockey / Q000293:injuries; D006801:Humans; D009141:Musculoskeletal System / Q000293:injuries; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012865:Skiing / Q000293:injuries