Piedmont, Georgia’s leading health system, and Piedmont Orthopedics | OrthoAtlanta recently brought physical therapists and athletic trainers together from across the Piedmont system for specialized training designed to strengthen concussion care and rehabilitation for athletes and patients throughout the communities Piedmont serves.
Andrew “TK” Teare-Ketter, PT, DPT, NCS, OCS, Cert. DN, a physical therapist and clinical coordinator for concussion rehabilitation at Piedmont Athens Regional led the course. Teare-Ketter is a board-certified neurologic and orthopedic clinical specialist who leads an outpatient concussion clinic at Piedmont Athens Regional and works with the University of Georgia Athletic Association to manage athletes following concussions, according to a news release from Piedmont Augusta.
The two-day Evidence-Based Concussion Management and Rehabilitation course focused on building a consistent, evidence-based approach to concussion management while creating a network of clinicians to care for patients with sports-related concussions. Attendees included physical therapists and athletic trainers representing Piedmont hospitals, Piedmont Orthopedics | OrthoAtlanta clinics, and high schools throughout Georgia.
“By training athletic trainers and physical therapists across our system, we are creating stronger connections between the clinicians who may first recognize and manage an athlete’s concussion and the therapists who can help guide rehabilitation and recovery,” Teare-Ketter said. “Our goal is to make specialized, evidence-based concussion care more accessible to patients throughout the communities Piedmont and Piedmont Orthopedics | OrthoAtlanta serve.”
Training included vestibular and ocular dysfunction, cervical spine management, exertional testing, cognitive-motor integration, headache management, and persistent post-concussion symptoms for patients with sports concussions. Participants also received hands-on instruction in assessment and intervention techniques and learned about collaborative, interdisciplinary approaches to concussion care, the release continued.
The program emphasized early active recovery, standardized referral pathways, and collaboration among providers. Having specially trained athletic trainers and physical therapists throughout the system can help high school athletes and other patients connect with clinicians who have additional training in concussion management and rehabilitation.
The course is part of a broader effort to expand sports concussion expertise across Piedmont. Earlier this year, Piedmont also provided specialized concussion education to Piedmont Urgent Care providers.
Physical therapists from Piedmont hospitals in Atlanta, Fayetteville and Stockbridge, as well as Piedmont Orthopedics | OrthoAtlanta locations in Gwinnett, Douglasville, Newton, Evans, Newnan, Johns Creek, Marietta, Fayetteville and Brookhaven attended the training. Piedmont Orthopedics athletic trainers who work with athletes at area high schools also participated, helping expand access to clinicians with specialized concussion training at both the school and rehabilitation levels.
By expanding specialized training among clinicians working in hospitals, outpatient clinics, urgent care settings and local schools, Piedmont and Piedmont Orthopedics | OrthoAtlanta aim to create a more coordinated network of sports concussion care for athletes and patients across the system.
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