SCORE Makes an ImPACT on Area Athletes

Varsity football athletes will be safer this upcoming season thanks to a $5,000 charitable donation offer from our Southern California Orthopedic Research and Education Center (SCORE) to 10 area high schools. The donations will fund Wells Fargo’s Play It Safe Concussion Care^SM insurance program, allowing all eligible athletes access to the ImPACT neurocognitive assessment and post-concussion testing regardless of healthcare insurance or income.

Using computerized neurocognitive assessment tools, the ImPACT concussion program is currently utilized for professional athletes in the NHL, NBA, MLB, and NFL, and has been provided to local athletes for the past year by our physicians. ImPACT helps athletic departments and area medical experts assess an athlete’s injury and better determine their ability to return to play following a concussion.

Recently, we hosted a kick-off celebration for athletic directors, varsity football team coaches, certified athletic trainers, and members of the sports community to announce SCORE’s charitable donation offer to the varsity football teams we currently serve as the team physicians. This includes the following high schools: Alemany High School, Canyon High School, Crespi Carmelite High School, Hart High School, Harvard-Westlake School, Notre Dame High School, Oaks Christian School, St. Francis High School, Valencia High School and West Ranch High School.

“Through the use of ImPACT and now Wells Fargo’s Play It Safe Concussion Care^SM insurance program, SCORE and the physicians of SCOI hope to help more athletes at risk and in need of concussion care and management,” explains Dr. Andrew M. Blecher, primary care sports medicine specialist at Southern California Orthopedic Institute. “SCORE's long-term objective in donating funds for the cause is to extend concussion recognition and management to all area high school athletes participating in the contact sports most at risk.”

For questions about concussions, the ImPACT program, information related to the Wells Fargo’s Play It Safe Concussion Care^SM insurance program, or to make an appointment for concussion evaluation or baseline testing, please contact us by calling (877) 952-8484. To receive additional information on concussions and receive sports medicine updates, connect with Dr. Blecher on Twitter. Search for @the_jockdoc to follow Dr. Blecher.

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