InjureFree Technology to Support Children's National Health and MedStar Sports Medicine Initiative for Concussion Awareness & Training in the District of Columbia

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- In conjunction with Children's National Health System and MedStar Sports Medicine, InjureFree's unique technology for HIPPA compliant mobile and real time injury documentation and reporting has been tapped to support an innovative program in the District of Columbia.  The primary goal of the program is to develop and implement strategies to comply with the District's Athletic Concussion Protection Act of 2011. The Act covers all athletes 18 years of age and younger who participate in any athletic program in or out of school in the District of Columbia.

The District of Columbia is the first major metro area to fund training and public awareness for Athletic Concussion Protection. This initiative focuses on all students, including those who are most vulnerable. InjureFree can provide a detailed roadmap for all 50 states to institute similar programs to make youth activities safer. At a National Press Club press conference today, Children's Division Chief of Neuropsychology and MedStar's Chief Medical Officer called for greater enforcement of existing student-athlete injury laws across the U.S.

Program costs are funded by the District of Columbia Department of Health.  The Act requires all adults in a supervisory capacity including coaches, parents, school personnel and participating students, to be fully trained in concussion recognition and response.  Following a suspected concussion, protocol requires the athlete to be removed from the game field or court. Return-to-play clearance is given only after a healthcare provider experienced in concussion management provides written documentation to return to play.  InjureFree enables all of this documentation to be managed from smart phones or other connected devices.

InjureFree's CEO Charlie Wund said "We are inspired to be working on such an important project with some of our nation's leading experts. To be selected as a technology partner by Children's National Health System and MedStar Sports Medicine is an honor and we are excited to be able to scale the work of so many talented medical professionals."

Alongside Children's National and MedStar Sports Medicine, InjureFree will assist in providing concussion education and training for children, student athletes, athletic program administrators, coaches, athletic trainers, school nurses, teachers, parents, and other caregivers. The two-fold goal is to educate each group on how to identify and respond to a suspected concussion, and to understand when student athletes can return to school and play in a healthy manner.

Dr. Gerry Gioia, Division Chief of Neuropsychology and director of the Safe Concussion Outcome, Recovery & Education (SCORE) Program at Children's National Health System stated, "We are excited to partner with InjureFree to provide an accountability system to track the concussion education and training of the various audiences. This system also provides the potential for  communication on all sport-related injuries between the family, medical system, school and sports organization to ensure that everyone is working together to optimize athlete health and safety."

"InjureFree was originally developed specifically for use in youth and high school sports as a means for increased communication," said Wund. "By connecting parents with athletic administrators and medical providers, we are able to create a level of transparency that is changing the culture of youth sports. This program provides a model for all youth sports administrators and state organizations that shows how communities can take proactive steps to better understand and reduce the risks their children face."

InjureFree's technology is designed to maintain a connected loop of continual evaluation and improved concussion awareness amongst all partners—various government agencies, schools, parent groups, sports science experts, and athletic organizations. This system also allows for the effective implementation of training programs, and ultimately provides a framework for success in compliance with the Athletic Concussion Protection Act.     

Media Contacts:

Mike Smith, Director of Communications, InjureFree, 703-623-3834, [email protected]  
Emily Hartman, Children's National Health System, [email protected], 202-476-4500
Derek Berry, MedStar Health System, [email protected], 202-877-1773

SOURCE InjureFree

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