Updates

WASHINGTON —The Emergency Medicine Foundation (EMF) and the NFL Foundation have partnered to provide an online continuing medical education course on how to assess and manage concussions. The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), under the leadership of Joseph F. Waeckerle, MD, FACEP, will manage the project with funding provided by the NFL Foundation.

“This is an important and timely project, given a recent study that reports that emergency department visits for traumatic brain injury increased by 29 percent over just 4 years,” said Dr. Waeckerle. “We need to be involved in all aspects of care, from prevention through treatment. I enjoyed collaborating with some of the best experts in the world to produce a first-rate educational product for emergency physicians and anyone who is involved in the diagnosis and treatment of concussion. We look forward to future collaboration with the NFL Foundation.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, emergency department visits for traumatic brain injury have increased 60 percent over the past decade, which is why emergency physicians are calling for more education on concussion recognition and care.

“Education is critical to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment of the injury in the emergency room, on the sidelines and elsewhere,” said Jeff Miller, NFL senior vice president of health and safety policy. “The NFL is pleased to partner with leaders like EMF to educate physicians and improve care for anyone who suffers a concussion.”

Using a peer-review methodology, Dr. Waeckerle and members of ACEP developed an accredited continuing medical education course that covers a number of topics related to concussion, including: epidemiology, prevention and mitigation, recognition, management, and recovery and return to play. The free online course is available to all physicians nationwide and designated and approved by ACEP for a maximum of 1.5. AMA PRA Category 1 Credits and a maximum of 1.5 hour(s) of ACEP Category I credit.

“Early intervention is critical to preventing short and long-term complications,” said Brooks Bock, MD, FACEP, chairman of EMF. “EMF appreciates the NFL’s support for this important effort to help improve the care of people who have experienced concussions.”

For more information and access to the course, visit http://www.acep.org/concussionessentials/.