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DID YOU KNOW
that an estimated
1.3 million people sustain concussions
annually and that concussions from
sports-related accidents are dramatically
increasing? In response, the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention has
developed Heads Up: Concussion in
Youth Sports, an initiative that provides
information regarding preventing, recog-
nizing and responding to concussion.
Concussion prevention and
management
Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center
(SARMC) and Saint Alphonsus Rehabilita-
tion Services (STARS) promote prevention
of concussion and brain injury. SARMC
sponsors the Idaho chapter of Think First,
a national organization that provides brain
and spinal cord injury prevention education
to teens. In 2011 prevention education
was provided to more than 2,000 students
throughout the Treasure Valley. Addition-
ally, the SARMC Foundation has provided
financial resources to STARS to advance
preventive community education. This
includes partnering with the four Boise
high schools to provide ImPACT baseline
screening and post-concussion evaluations.
What is ImPACT Testing?
ImPACT provides neurocognitive assess-
ment tools that are used by physicians,
coaches and athletic trainers to assist them
in determining an athlete’s ability to return
safely to play. SARMC and STARS are
proud to be certified ImPACT providers—
part of the only system of care in the Trea-
sure Valley Region that offers a continuum
of medical and rehabilitative care to people
with concussions and more severe brain
injuries, as well as their families.
Saint Alphonsus Medical Center –
Ontario provides an educational program for
local physical therapists, athletic trainers and
teamphysicians that provide sideline coverage
at local sports events. It also is working to
implement ImPACT testing in area schools.
We are committed to providing the
highest quality of care and have achieved
the highest level of recognition. We are a
Level II Trauma Center and are accredited
by The Joint Commission and the Com-
mission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation
NEED MORE INFORMATION
?
For more information regarding any of these services,
please call Kathy Smith, neurological case manager, at
(208) 367-8962
.
Facilities International (CARF). This
includes specific accreditation for both
inpatient and outpatient brain injury
programs.
Health & Healing
www.saintalphonsus.org
8
THE FACTS ABOUT
CONCUSSION
• A concussion is a brain injury.
• All concussions are serious.
• Concussions can occur in any
sport.
• Recognition and proper man-
agement of concussions when
they first occur can help prevent
further injury or even death.
CDC recommendations
• Educate athletes and their
parents about concussion.
• Insist that safety come first.
• Teach athletes and parents that
it is not smart to play with a
concussion.
• Prevent long-term prob-
lems, such as second-impact
syndrome.
To find out more about
concussions and how to protect
young athletes, visit
www.cdc
.gov/concussioninyouthsports
.
This information is available also in
Spanish.
IN SPORTS
CONCUSSION
Protecting young athletes