Published: September 29, 2006 07:52 pm            

VIDEO: Doctor challenges new physicals policy

By Joseph Kissel

record@gnnewspapers.com

It’s not over yet.

Dr. Robert Lutnick gave his professional opinion to the school board regarding "those physicals" that took place in August, and he asked the board to re-consider its new methods regarding sports physicals.

Starting this year, all island kids who want to take part in sports now have to get one at the school — even if their own doctor says they’re fit to play.

"There is a charge for every student examined," Lutnick said. "And that charge is a redundancy."

Many taxpayers already pay for insurance that covers these costs, he said.

And is it cost-effective? "I’d like to see the numbers," Lutnick said. "There are different ways to adjust numbers."

Lutnick’s appearance at Monday’s board of education meeting followed one by his wife Liz two weeks ago, when she focused on several issues she observed that day in late August when scores and scores of athletes and parents descended upon the school for required physicals and waited and waited for two hours or longer.

"Most of the issues have some basis in fact," interim superintendent Larry Zacher said.

"We are gathering information."

Lutnick once again raised questions about the cost-effectiveness of contracting the district’s physicals to UB Sports Medicine.

Who knows a student better than their own physician, Lutnick asked.

But athletic director John Roth said UB Sports Medicine wants to see every student "to get to know them better because they feel responsible for each athlete."

This is also a guideline of the American College of Sports Medicine, said Scott Dinse, director of rehabilitation and athletic training at UB Sports Medicine.

        

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