Scott Rand, MD

06/13/2025

For the 13th(?) time. Out with the old.

05/11/2025

Long post and a bit of a rant

In church this morning, the pastor had quote that both Michelle and I thought was awesome:

"If service is below you, leadership is beyond you"

Michelle is a Certified Financial Planner. Many people in her world will only help clients with large amounts of money who are near or in retirement. This isn't her philosophy, and her mission is to help people at all stages of life.

In my career I see similar things. I present myself as a Sports Medicine doctor, and I have that training and certification. My original training was in family medicine. I have always considered myself to be a generalist, or family doctor but now my focus is on the athletic population. Many others in my specialty ( Primary Care Sports Medicine) only want to "do sports.' They want to see only musculoskeletal issues and sports related concussions. The other stuff that their patients need, like routine health maintenance, help with acute illnesses or chronic conditions (hypertension, diabetes, mental health etc) are beneath them. Someone else can manage those things. They just want to work on the sports stuff.

I struggle with that. My value to my patients as a physician is in my ability to understand how any issue can affect their ability to participate in their sport and how their sport affects all aspects of their health. If I only want to help with their musculoskeletal issues and tell them they have to see someone else for their 'non sports stuff' then my value is diminished.

I see many patients as a consultant for sports related issues. Most of these issues are musculoskeletal. I am grateful for those patients and those referrals. I have been in this area for 25 years and my practice has been closed to new primary care patients for some time. When I talk to new sports medicine doctors about their careers and listen to them talk about all of the things they don't want to do or didn't like about family medicine, I'm saddened. I have always felt that in order to be a good sports medicine doctor, I first had to be a good doctor. I specialized in sports medicine because I really enjoyed taking care of active people, not because I didn't want to do the 'non sports' stuff.

My scope of practice is not one that many want and sometimes I feel like a bit of a dinosaur. Since my practice is in an orthopedic office, I'm sure it would be easier to understand if I only did musculoskeletal care. Why would someone go to an ortho office for their blood pressure or their pneumonia? Because how those things are treated can have significant impact on your sport participation and knowing that 'non sports' stuff is exactly why I do this. It is exactly why I, and others like me, add value to the community we care for.

Leadership is about the willingness to do what needs to be done. Nothing is beneath a leader.

04/26/2025

So proud to be part of the Primary Care Sports Medicine community. We had a great reception last night and very positive recruiting event this morning. I am blessed to be part of a specialty that takes care of athletes without restriction. We aren’t restricted by organ system or disease process or body part. We care for any need our athletes have. We do what no other specialty does and we do it better than anyone in the country. We are Houston Methodist Orthopedics and Sports Medicine.

04/04/2025

It's Sports Physical Season again!!!

Every year, My group goes out to area schools to perform preparticipation, or sports, physicals for the middle school and high school athletes in the area. Between now and the end of May, we will perform over 13,000 screening exams on area student athletes. Humor me a minute as I put out some things that I think are important

1. This is NOT a well child check or health maintenance exam. The sole purpose of the sports physical is to ensure the athlete is safe to participate in the sport they choose. It is very specific and every question asked on the history form is looking for problems that can affect participation.

2. The history page is vitally important. Please fill it out with or for your child. Do not expect your 12 year old to complete the form and expect it to be accurate. Athletes who show up to their physical without a completed and signed history will not be able to get their exam.

3. Dress for success. The providers who are doing your physical have to be able to hear your heart and lungs and you need to do physical things that are very hard in heels and a skirt. T shirt and shorts are perfect. And wear your glasses or contacts.

4. If your student athlete has chronic medical conditions, this is not the best venue to get a sports physical. The family doctor or pediatrician who knows your athlete best is far better suited to determine what is safe for your athlete. Adding a sports physical to a well child check is the best way to make that happen. Insurance companies by and large do not pay for a sports physical but most providers are happy to complete the form as part of a health maintenance exam.

In Health

Scott Rand, MD FAAFP CAQSM

02/27/2025

Insurance is pretty frustrating. I found out last week that BCBS sent a letter to all my patients telling them that I would no longer be participating with their insurance. Since that is about 50% of my patient volume, that is a fair number of patients. I don't really control my insurance contracts but my office staff assured me that I was still credentialed and would still be able to see BCBS patients while I was being re credentialed. If you got one of those letters, please ignore it and contact BCBS and tell them they are wrong.

01/09/2025

https://www.houstonmethodistcareers.org/job/101845/sr-exercise-physiologist-willowbrook-physical-therapy-houston-methodist-wi-17-62901/

We are searching for an exercise physiologist to work in our Human Performance lab. Experience with high level endurance athletes a plus.

New openings for Houston Methodist jobs in nursing (RN, CNA), administration, professional, service and support, and other hospital job openings

09/05/2024

Looking for an exercise physiologist in the north Houston area with experience in sports performance. Anyone in my world know someone?

08/31/2024

03/08/2024

https://www.houstonmethodist.org/blog/articles/2024/mar/4-key-nutrition-trends-for-2024-whether-they-live-up-to-the-hype/

A dietitian's take on today's hottest nutrition crazes.

08/28/2023

I am so proud to be part of the world champions center family. 4 of the 8 best gymnasts in the country train there.

05/02/2023

We spent the morning educating residents from across the country about our fellowship program. I remain so very grateful for this group of excellent faculty and fellows. Our program continues to gain interest and status nationally because of the work you do.