11

Student-Athlete Protection Act Student-Athlete Protection Act Senate Bill 652Senate Bill 652

Vanessa Wigand, Principal Specialist for Health and Vanessa Wigand, Principal Specialist for Health and Physical Education, Driver Education and AthleticsPhysical Education, Driver Education and Athletics

22

Goals of Goals of Senate Bill 652Senate Bill 652

Directed the Board of Education (BOE) to Directed the Board of Education (BOE) to develop develop guidelines for policies guidelines for policies dealing dealing with concussions in student-athleteswith concussions in student-athletes

Requires Requires local school boards local school boards to develop to develop policies and procedures regarding policies and procedures regarding identification and handling of suspected identification and handling of suspected concussions in student-athletesconcussions in student-athletes

33

Goals of Senate Bill Goals of Senate Bill 652 (continued)652 (continued)

Requires the BOE to define appropriate Requires the BOE to define appropriate health care providers health care providers authorized to authorized to evaluate and provide written clearance for evaluate and provide written clearance for return to play return to play to ensure that student-to ensure that student-athletes who sustain concussions are athletes who sustain concussions are properly diagnosed, given adequate time to properly diagnosed, given adequate time to heal, and comprehensively supported heal, and comprehensively supported

44

A Collaborative ProcessA Collaborative Process

As specified in the bill, the VDOE assembled the As specified in the bill, the VDOE assembled the “dream team’ in neuroscience, and worked with: “dream team’ in neuroscience, and worked with:

The Virginia High School League, the Virginia The Virginia High School League, the Virginia Department of Health, the Virginia Athletic Trainers Department of Health, the Virginia Athletic Trainers Association, Children’s Hospital of the King’s Association, Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters, Children’s National Medical Center, the Daughters, Children’s National Medical Center, the Brain Injury Association of Virginia, the American Brain Injury Association of Virginia, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Virginia College of Academy of Pediatrics, the Virginia College of Emergency Physicians, and other interested Emergency Physicians, and other interested stakeholdersstakeholders

55

As a Result of Public Comment…As a Result of Public Comment…

Language (that was not Language (that was not required by the legislation) required by the legislation) was added to address the was added to address the academic needs and gradual academic needs and gradual reintroduction of cognitive reintroduction of cognitive demands for students who demands for students who have sustained concussionshave sustained concussions

66

BOE’s Definition of Appropriate BOE’s Definition of Appropriate Licensed Health Care ProviderLicensed Health Care Provider

Physician, Physician Assistant, Physician, Physician Assistant, Osteopath or Athletic Trainer Osteopath or Athletic Trainer Licensed by the Board of MedicineLicensed by the Board of Medicine

NeuropsychologistNeuropsychologist licensed by licensed by the Board or Psychology, or the Board or Psychology, or

Nurse Practitioner Nurse Practitioner licensed by licensed by the Board of Nursingthe Board of Nursing

77

The Legislation Requires that The Legislation Requires that the BOE Guidelines Requirethe BOE Guidelines Require

Student-athletes and parents review information Student-athletes and parents review information about short- and long-term effects of concussions about short- and long-term effects of concussions

They must sign a statement acknowledging receipt, They must sign a statement acknowledging receipt, review and understanding of such informationreview and understanding of such information

Local school divisions are responsible Local school divisions are responsible for designing the content, process for designing the content, process and ensuring accountabilityand ensuring accountability

88

BOE Guidelines RequireBOE Guidelines Require “If in Doubt, Sit Them Out” “If in Doubt, Sit Them Out”

Student-athlete suspected of sustaining a Student-athlete suspected of sustaining a concussion shall be removed from activity concussion shall be removed from activity

The student-athlete shall not return to play until:The student-athlete shall not return to play until: Evaluated, Evaluated, Treated, andTreated, and Receives written clearance to return to play from a Receives written clearance to return to play from a

licensed health care providerlicensed health care provider

99

BOE Guidelines Require BOE Guidelines Require a Sideline Assessmenta Sideline Assessment

Appropriate licensed health Appropriate licensed health care providers or properly care providers or properly trained individuals will use trained individuals will use a standardized concussion a standardized concussion sideline assessment tool sideline assessment tool (SCAT II, SAC, BESS, (SCAT II, SAC, BESS, etc.) etc.)

1010

BOE Guidelines Require BOE Guidelines Require School Divisions to have School Divisions to have Concussion Policy TeamsConcussion Policy Teams

At a minimum, the team must include a:At a minimum, the team must include a:school administrator, athletic administrator, school administrator, athletic administrator,

appropriate health care provider, coach, parent, and appropriate health care provider, coach, parent, and studentstudent

They must review local concussion management They must review local concussion management policies on an annual basis policies on an annual basis

1111

BOE Guidelines Require BOE Guidelines Require Protocols for Return to PlayProtocols for Return to Play

Immediately remove student athlete when Immediately remove student athlete when injuredinjured

No participation until asymptomatic during No participation until asymptomatic during or following periods of supervised or following periods of supervised exercise that is gradually intensifiedexercise that is gradually intensified

Must receive written medical release from Must receive written medical release from an approved licensed health care provideran approved licensed health care provider

1212

School divisions must develop policies School divisions must develop policies for staff, coaches, athletic trainers, team for staff, coaches, athletic trainers, team physicians, and volunteers to receive physicians, and volunteers to receive current training on:current training on:

• strategies to reduce concussionsstrategies to reduce concussions• how to recognize and treat concussionshow to recognize and treat concussions• when student can safely return to playwhen student can safely return to play

BOE Guidelines Require BOE Guidelines Require Annual Training for PersonnelAnnual Training for Personnel

1313

BOE Guidelines Require BOE Guidelines Require a Tracking Systema Tracking System

School divisions must maintain a tracking system to document compliance with the annual training requirement