In the 2011 session, the NC General Assembly passed House Bill 792/Gfeller-Waller Concussion Awareness Act, to protect the safety of student-athletes in North Carolina. The law directs the Matthew A. Gfeller Sport-Related Traumatic Brain Injury Research Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (http://tbicenter.unc.edu/), in conjunction with numerous health care agencies and organizations, to develop an athletic concussion safety training program. Partners in this endeavor include the NCMS, Department of Public Instruction/State Board of Education, NC High School Athletic Association, NC Athletic Trainers Association, Gfeller Center, Brain Injury Association, and Neuropsychological Society.
Resources from the Gfeller Center:
In addition, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is developing a free, online clinician training module to be called “Heads Up to Clinicians: Addressing Concussion in Sports among Kids and Teens.” This course includes an overview of what health care professionals need to know about concussion among young athletes participating in sports and recreation activities. The course focuses on how concussions occur and why young athletes are at increased risk, and also helps clinicians prepare for diagnosing and managing concussions on the sidelines, in their offices, training room, or in the emergency department.
This course includes a free continuing education opportunity through CDC. At the end of the course, there will be a short quiz and the opportunity to obtain a certificate and CME, CNE, or CEU credits. When available, we will include the link to the course on the NCMS website.
The NCMS Sports Medicine Committee has reviewed materials offered by the Center and is working to provide input in the development of the Gfeller Center programs and to provide feedback to the Center.
