Expert advice on sports medicine now one click away Published Oct. 15, 2014 WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Under a new partnership between the Air Force Medical Service, or AFMS, and the Human Performance Resource Center, or HPRC, Air Force healthcare providers can now seek expert advice on a variety of sports medicine topics. HPRC's “Ask the Expert” feature includes sports medicine, physical therapy, exercise physiology, athletic training, nutrition and other human performance optimization topics and is a Defense Department initiative under the Force Health Protection and Readiness Program. "All Air Force healthcare providers -- whether active duty, Guard, Reserve, civilian, or contractor -- need a solid grounding in sports medicine," said Col. John Oh, the chief of health promotion at the AFMS agency. "Our Airmen need to be fit to fight, and we medics need basic clinical skills in preventing, diagnosing, treating, and rehabilitating musculoskeletal injuries and conditions; referring patients appropriately; and profiling Airmen accurately for work duties and fitness assessments." Through HPRC's Ask the Expert, providers from any military service can submit questions online and HPRC sports medicine experts will respond via e-mail. The program is not suited for clinical questions that require an urgent response, as the turnaround time may take several days. According to sources, providers are asked not disclose any personal identifying information. In addition to sports medicine, the program accepts questions on a variety of other health- and performance-related topics, including: nutrition, dietary supplements, family and relationships, environment, mind tactics, and total force fitness. Based at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences under the Consortium for Health and Military Performance, or CHAMP, HPRC is an online, one-stop clearinghouse for evidence-based information and key resources to help warfighters and their families in all aspects of performance. "We are excited to partner with the Air Force Medical Service in helping upgrade the knowledge and skills of Air Force and other Military Health System healthcare providers," said Col. Jeff Leggit, the medical director for CHAMP. (Information provided by the Air Force Surgeon General Public Affairs Office)