Youth Concussion Management Expert to Speak at Iowa Concussion Coalition September 23

The Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa announces a statewide webinar and Iowa City Town Hall Meeting to be held on September 23, 2016, focused on concussion prevention and management in youth.   Both events will feature Dr. Karen McAvoy, internationally recognized expert  and author of concussion protocols.

Dr. McAvoy, Director at the Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children, is the author of REAP (Remove/Reduce, Educate, Adjust/Accommodate, Pace), a Community-Based Concussion Management Program for families, schools, and medical professionals. The Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa, in partnership with St. Luke’s Unity Point and the Iowa Concussion Consortium, will be unveiling a customized Iowa edition of the REAP protocol at these events.

The first event of the day, a webinar titled “REAP – A Statewide Concussion Management Program for Iowa,” will take place in an online format at 12pm on Friday, September 23rd.  The webinar will provide an overview of Iowa Concussion Consortium collaborators, an introduction to REAP, detailed information educating the public about concussion, and how to appropriately manage a concussion to encourage a successful return to sports and to the classroom and other activity.

The final event on Friday, September 23rd, will be a Town Hall Meeting event held at the Iowa City Public Library from 6:00 – 7:30 pm. This event will present the multi-disciplinary team approach outlined in Iowa’s REAP manual which schools or families can use to create a safety net for all students with at risk for concussion. The meeting will address public concern that has grown surrounding appropriate concussion management and will educate the audience about how to increase successful outcomes when assisting students in their return to the classroom and activity.

All events are open to members of the community, including athletic trainers, school nurses, teachers, school administrators, parents, and students. Interested participants can register for both events at www.biaia.org.   A full copy of the REAP-Iowa Manual is also at this www.biaia.org.

To inquire about interviews with Dr. Karen McAvoy and the Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa or for more information about these upcoming events, please contact Melissa at (319) 466-7455 or at icc@biaia.org