The WiSH Education Foundation announced that Hart District athletic trainers are set to receive concussion testing software donated by Boston Scientific, to monitor athletes for head injuries.

“This athletic training outreach program provides sports medicine services to six of our local public high schools,” said TJ DiPrima, coordinator of the athletic training program. “We currently employ and provide six full-time certified athletic trainers whose responsibility is the safety and welfare of student-athletes that participate in sports. One of our recurring goals for the program is to provide education regarding concussion recognition and management to ensure that athletes are appropriately removed from participation and properly returned to school and sports activities.”

The software, called ImPACT Neurocognitive Testing, is a computerized neurocognitive assessment tool that helps healthcare providers evaluate and manage suspected concussions. Test results can be compared to baseline scores and normative data as part of a healthcare provider’s assessment of the injury.

Lynne Secrest, vice chair of WiSH and a senior human resources manager of neuromodulation at Boston Scientific, said the new tool will help prevent concussion related injuries.

“We are learning more about the negative impact concussions can have on the health of professional and especially student athletes,” she said. “If this concussion-testing software can help identify injuries early, that’s one more step towards keeping our students healthy. I am proud of our dedication to support the local community.”

Baseline tests can provide the athletic trainers with vital knowledge of the student-athletes’ cognitive function before a concussion, such as attention span, working memory, sustained and selective attention, problem solving and reaction time.

This can be very useful in helping these students return to the classroom as well as the sports field without lingering symptoms or deficits in cognitive function.

“With this funding we are giving our student athletes more significant support both on and off the field,” said WiSH Foundation Executive Director Amy Daniels. “It was a significant gap that has now been filled.”

Ed. Note: This information was provided to KHTS by the WiSH Education Foundation.

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