NYSSOS TO CONVENE NOVEMBER 9TH MULTIDISCIPLINARY WEB CONFERENCE TO ADDRESS CONCUSSION MANAGEMENT
Experts to Share Strategies on Recognizing Concussions and Providing Proper Treatment, Especially Among School Aged Children
Virtual Program Provided in Conjunction With the Brain Injury Association of New York State, Sports Medicine Concepts and Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists Will Provide Critical Guidance to a Wide Range of Education, Athletics and Medical Professions
Albany, New York — The New York State Society of Orthopaedic Surgeons today announced plans to convene a multidisciplinary virtual conference on November 9th to share evidenced-based approaches to recognizing concussions and providing proper treatment, especially among school-aged children.
The webinar event, which is also sponsored by the Brain Injury Association of New York State (BIANYS), Sports Medicine Concepts, and Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists, is targeted to a wide variety of education, athletics and medical professions, including: athletic trainers; athletic directors; school nurses, counselors, psychologists, social workers, and medical directors; teachers; primary care physicians; concussion clinics; physical therapists; speech and language therapists; pediatricians; occupational therapists and orthopaedists, among others.
Child and adolescent head injuries are far more common than previously thought. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 11.7 percent of children aged 15 to 17 have experienced a serious head injury, creating a clear and emergent call to action.
The primary goal of the November 9th virtual conference is to provide each professional discipline with an understanding of its shared role in the concussion management care circle, and to actively apply concepts learned from the day's event.
NYSSOS President Dr. John DiPreta said: “Orthopaedists are focused on the health of the entire musculoskeletal system, including the head, spine and associated nervous system. The focus in recent years on concussion injuries at the professional athletics level has generated a far broader realization that athletes at every age and level must be protected from concussion injuries, and just as importantly, that the education, athletic and medical professionals who respond to and/or treat concussions are fully up to date on the most effective concussion recognition and treatment strategies available.”
Program elements of the conference include:
• Initial Assessment, Acute Management and Typical versus Prolonged Recovery, including: recognizing signs and symptoms of concussion; selecting and utilizing appropriate sideline assessment tools; identifying appropriate care and red flags for immediate referral/emergency transport; identifying “typical” recovery times/stages; and selecting appropriate referrals and rehabilitation tools to manage prolonged recovery.
• The Concussion Management Care Circle, with learning objectives that include: defining components of multidisciplinary concussion management teams; identifying rolls and responsibilities of each profession within the care circle; creating interdisciplinary communication plans; creating a concussion protocol that can address different severities of concussion; identifying strategies to manage patient expectations; and patient-provider communication.
• Navigating New York State Legislation and Regulations, with learning objectives that include: demonstrating understanding of the differences between state legislation, local guidelines, and specific organization policies; creating a concussion protocol that adheres to local and state regulations for your profession and patient population; and demonstrating understanding of pending legislation.
A full program agenda including faculty and eligibility for continuing education credits can be found at https://nyssos.org/concussion/
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