Most folks know about concussions and football these days, but concussions can come from many other injuries including falls (snow and ice are not always our friends), cycling and car accidents, and from domestic violence.
The Center Foundation has a 23-year history of providing concussion management for area high schools that has expanded into a comprehensive, coordinated care model not just for children, but adults as well. In conjunction with The Center, The Center Foundation, High Desert Education Service District and St. Charles neuropsychology services, all high schools in Bend, La Pine, Sisters, Crook County and Madras are under this umbrella of care. In fact, The Center was a beta test site for ImPACT neurocognitive testing for baseline and sports concussion injuries in the early 2000’s. Neuropsychologists were recruited to the community to interpret ImPACT testing and the concussion program was born. Since then, the program has expanded to walk-in concussion clinics at The Center; coordinated care with Center Foundation athletic trainers in all area high schools; baseline cognitive testing available for ages 5-81; and use of new technologies such as app-based testing with the Sway Medical System, ImPACT and others. This Central Oregon community model of care is currently being studied by a Center for Disease Control and Prevention-sponsored grant to the University of Oregon looking at how we return our injured children back to school.
Since 2011, and as part of the mission to provide cutting-edge care for brain injuries, The Center Foundation has organized an educational conference every three years on concussion topics. National leaders in concussion care present at the conference and share innovations in prevention and care. This year, the concussion conference will be held on April 14-15 at the Oregon State University – Cascades Campus in Bend and feature experts from Harvard University, New York University, National Children’s Hospital, the University of Washington, Oregon Health & Science University, Oregon State University – Cascades and the University of Oregon.
Additionally, Dr. Stan Herring, newly retired head team physician for the Seattle Seahawks, David Stricklin, head athletic trainer for the Seattle Seahawks, presenting at the conference. If you are not interested in the clinical conference, look for an evening of conversation with Dr. Herring and Mr. Stricklin at The Center Foundation Keynote & Social from 7-9pm on Friday, April 14. This event and conference are major fundraisers for The Center Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
The conference is supported by Oregon State University – Cascades and the Best Western Premiere Peppertree Inn in Bend.
About The Center Foundation:
The Center Foundation, has provided certified athletic trainers to Central Oregon high schools for more than 20 years, serving more than 5,000 students at over 1,400 sporting events annually. Our staff manage injuries and concussions and educate young athletes on injury prevention. These services are provided at no cost to students or their families. Foundation programs also deliver brain and spinal cord injury prevention education in grade schools, free multi-sport helmets to children in need and education seminars and conferences for healthcare professionals. Since 2000, The Center Foundation has been Central Oregon’s only nonprofit solely dedicated to providing sports medicine services as a means to ensure youth are safe, healthy and protected in an active lifestyle.
