Local Doctor Selected To Watch Over Olympic Hockey Players
By Michelle Durham
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A Rothman Institute physician is one of two local doctors who have been tapped to supervise the care of NHL Players skating on the Olympic Hockey teams of various countries next month in Sochi, Russia.
Dr. Peter DeLuca says if a NHL Player is skating for any Olympic Hockey team, he'll be in charge of their care, as well as members of their families:
"I'm taking on the orthopaedic problems, and Gary Dorsheimer, who takes care of the Philadelphia Flyers, will take care of the Internal Medicine problems," DeLuca tells KYW Newsradio. "What I am hearing is that the officials in Russia will confiscate any medicines that are not prescribed directly for us."
So right now, DeLuca is trying to figure out how they will bring antibiotics and other necessary medications with them.
DeLuca says he's not only ready for the inevitable muscle strains and contusions which arise, but also the battles of a different kind:
"My role is not going to be very pleasant. If a player has an injury and the team doctor says the player can play, I, representing the NHL and the team that player plays for, can step in and say 'No'."
Hockey games begin February 12th. A total of 18 games will be played before the teams go to the medal rounds. DeLuca departs February 9th.