The Tennessee Athletic Trainer's Society invites you to join the Concussion Discussion in Nashville TN on Friday May 20 and Saturday May 21, 2011.  The Concussion discussion is NATABOC approved for a total of 10.5 CEU hours and will take place at Lipscomb University from 7:30am-2:30pm on Friday and 8:00am-12:30 on Saturday.  It is possible to register for either a single day or both days at www.tnata.org

.

 

Some of the speakers at the Concussion Discussion include: James Moriarity, MD- University of Notre Dame Team Physician; Patrick Kersey, MD- Indianapolis Colts Team Physician; Ken Boyd, ATC - Univ of Texas  Football Athletic Trainer; Gary Solomon, PhD.- Nashville Predators/Nashville Titans  Neuropsychologist, Allen Sills, MD, Neurosurgical Consult to Nashville Predators, Memphis Grizzlies, Vanderbilt University, and Mississippi State University athletic teams; and Rod Walters, NATA Hall of Fame Athletic Trainer and President of Walters Inc. - Consultant in Sports Medicine.

 

Topics at the Concussion Discussion include: Balance assessment, spine boarding scenarios and challenges, sideline evaluation of the concussed athlete, physiology of concussion, computerized neuropsychological testing of the athlete, sports related concussion: biomarkers, genetics, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, vestibular therapy, nutritional aspects of concussion recovery, pre-participation screening and disqualification for neurological conditions, use of blood pressure medication for post concussive symptoms, occipital neuralgia, and design and implementation of a concussion management protocol. For additional information or to register please visit www.tnata.org.  

The second referenced document for Best Practices is the Managing Prescriptions and Non-Prescription Medication in the Athletic Training Facility.  This was published in January 2009, following approval by the NATA's Board of Directors.

 

Because individual state laws vary and federal laws may overlap or override a state's statutes, practitioners must be aware of all state and federal laws and regulations that impact the facility. A thorough understanding of the interpretation of "dispensing" and "administering" medications to patients needs to be done.  It goes without saying, continuing with practice standards because "this is the way we have always done it" is not an acceptable rationale.  The following entities are involved and include: 

• Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is concerned with appropriate labeling.
• Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) oversees prescription and controlled substances.  It is important to note that a DEA license is required by federal law if there are any controlled substances stored, administered, or dispensed at the facility.
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides standards for contamination. This area deals with the prevention from repackaging of prescription or OTC medications outside of a licensed pharmaceutical facility. 

The complete document is available on the NATA's website at the link above.    

 

Each of the following topics will be featured in future newsletters. 

 

Appropriate medical care for secondary school-age athletes (Feb. 2003)

 

Inter-Association Recommendations on Emergency Preparedness and Management of Sudden Cardiac Arrest in High School and College Athletic Programs (March 2007)

 

Inter-Association Task Force on Exertional Heat Illnesses (June 2003)

 

Prehospital Care of the Spine-Injured Athlete (2001)

 

Sickle Cell Trait and the Athlete 

We have listened to you the attendees, and have "tweaked" the 2011 ATEO events to topics you wanted!  The  new content includes a talk on "Integration of Technology" and some discussion specific to Health Care Administration which is a challenge for the high school, college, or professional Athletic Trainers.  The topic list includes:   

• Technology and Sports Medicine - Tools To Help Us Complete Our Job
• Drug Testing Issues and Challenges
• Cost Containment Challenges - Physician Extender Concepts
• AEDs and the Emergency Action Plan
• Germs and Microbes Challenging the Athletics Trainer
• Bracing of Ankle and Knee
• Soft Casting in Sports Medicine
• Taping