Dear Parent/Guardian, Student Athletes and Coaches,

 

I am excited to announce that the Prairie du Chien High School will be utilizing an innovative program for evaluating and treating head injuries (e.g., concussion). In order to better manage concussions sustained by our student-athletes, Prairie du Chien High School has partnered with Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital to acquire a software tool called ImPACT (Immediate Post Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing). Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, ImPACT is a leader in computerized neurocognitive assessment tools and services. ImPACT has created an international network of clients who utilize the company's concussion management program. Neurocognitive test such as ImPACT are fast becoming the "gold standard" in recognizing and managing head injuries. Additional information about ImPACT can be found at www.impacttest.com.

 

Prairie du Chien High School is requiring student-athletes take the computerized exam before beginning sport practice or competition. The format of the test is similar to that of a video game and takes about 20-30 minutes to complete. The ImPACT test is like a pre-season physical of the brain. It tracks information such as memory, reaction time, and concentration, but it is not an IQ test. The ImPACT test is non-invasive and poses no risks to the student-athlete.

 

If the student-athlete suffers a head injury, and a concussion is suspected, the student-athlete will be referred to a health care organization for evaluation. The medical professional may recommend that the student-athlete take the post-injury ImPACT test. The school will maintain your child's pre-season and post-injury test data, if any, on a secure server maintained by ImPACT. The student-athlete's post-test data will only be available to his/her health care provider, except as described below. If the student-athlete suffers a head injury, the parent/guardian will be contacted with additional details about how to proceed.

 

The student-athlete's test data may be made available to the clinician evaluating your child. This clinician may choose to make the student-athlete's test data available to other health care providers who are being consulted regarding the treatment of the student-athlete. The student-athlete's health and safety are at the forefront of the student's athletic experience, and we are excited to utilize this program. If you have any further questions regarding this program please feel free to contact me, Mark Seeley MS, LAT or Penny Grassel LAT at 608-357-2216.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Mark L. Seeley MS, LAT

Athletic Trainer