MedStar is now the team doctor for the Wizards and Capitals

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MedStar Health is now the official medical team partner for the NHL Washington Capitals, as well as the NBA Washington Wizards.

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Jeff Clabaugh

Broadcast/Web Reporter- Washington Business Journal

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MedStar Health, which has a prominent sports medicine practice, is now the official medical team partner for the Washington Capitals and Wizards.

That means MedStar doctors will serve as the official physicians for the teams. Monumental Sports & Entertainment and MedStar unveiled the partnership Thursday.

MedStar, a not-for-profit health system headquartered in Columbia, is one of the largest health systems in the Baltimore-Washington area and has been expanding. It's opened urgent care clinics and teamed with CVS and its MinuteClinic subsidiary to grow its retail medicine reach. It signed on with the D.C. tech incubator 1776 as a founding partner to get a seat at the table with promising health care startups. And in 2013, MedStar struck a partnership on cardiac care and research with the prestigious Cleveland Clinic. Linking its name with two big D.C. sports brands is another way for MedStar to get its name out there.

MedStar Sports Medicine includes more than 40 physicians, as well as certified athletic trainers, nurses, therapists, nutritionists and clinical support employees at its 10 hospitals and its network of community-based healthcare services.

"As the largest sports medicine program in the mid-Atlantic region, people travel from across the country to receive the same level of care as professional and college athletes," said Dr. Stephen Evans, chief medical officer at MedStar Health.

MedStar is currently conducting cardiovascular and head injury research for the National Football League. It also offers a sports medicine fellowship program for young orthopedic surgeons.

MedStar is the official medical team for more than 55 sports organizations, including the Baltimore Ravens and Washington Nationals.

Jeff Clabaugh covers general assignment and provides business coverage for WTOP.