Archive: Concussion Bill Passes House

(This article is from the Pennsylvania Medical Society's website archives.)

A bill aimed to better monitor concussions in Pennsylvania interscholastic athletes passed the state House of Representatives Tuesday, Sept. 28. The measure was approved by a 169-29 vote.

The Pennsylvania Medical Society supports House Bill 2728 because it would require any student athlete who exhibits signs or symptoms of a concussion or head injury to obtain clearance by a licensed or certified concussion-trained medical professional before being allowed to return to participation in their sport. Language that defines who has the proper training to diagnose a concussion was inserted into the bill; it includes neuropsychologists, medical doctors, doctors of osteopathy and certified athletic trainers.

The measure also calls for coaches to complete a concussion management certification training course once every three years offered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Federation of State High School Associations, or another provider approved by the Department of Health.

HB 2728 now moves to the Senate where it may come up for debate.

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Comments: 2


i appreciate the efforts and would like to know more about the course and which guidelines will be folllowed

jeffrey gold at 10/7/2010 8:37:06 PM


I am not an attorney and am not familiar with the technical aspects of this bill. However, as a former youth soccer coach, I strongly support the idea outlined by the PA Med Soc synopsis. Professional football now understands the long term damage of multiple concussions. Professional football players must be held out of practice and cannot return, often for days, until cleared by a professional. As I understand it, these safe guards exist because of the Players Association. Youth leagues and scholastic players will not have unions representing the players' interests.

Burdett Porter at 9/30/2010 5:26:20 PM

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