St. Vincent Sports Concussion Alliance holds meeting for coaches, school officials

The St. Vincent Sports Concussion Alliance held a meeting for coaches and school officials highlighting its Concussion Awareness Week July 8-14 and the importance of proper treatment of concussions in sports.

The St. Vincent Sports Concussion Alliance is a partnership of Ascension Indiana’s St. Vincent Evansville, Tri-State Orthopaedics and ProRehab. The alliance was established to educate administrators, athletic trainers, coaches, parents and student-athletes on the importance of identifying the signs of concussion, seeking immediate proper medical treatment, and using standard guidelines to return the athlete to play.

“We want people to be aware of what’s going on with concussions so that they understand that there is treatment and management of concussions to try to get the kids back safely,” Alliance Medical Director Thomas Weinzapfel, MD, a St. Vincent Medical Group pediatrician who specializes in concussion care, told local TV news.

Dozens of coaches, athletic directors, trainers and other local school officials joined the meeting, hearing from a panel of physicians and physical, speech and occupational therapy experts.