Righttime Medical Care CEO Addresses Brain Injury Association of Maryland Annual Conference

ANNAPOLIS, Md., March 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Robert G. Graw, Jr., M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Maryland-based Righttime Medical Care, presented his lecture, An Integrated Community Model for the Education, Evaluation and Treatment: An Update, on mild traumatic brain injuries (MTBI) at the Brain Injury Association of Maryland's annual conference on March 20.

Addressing an audience of medical professionals, educators, specialists and patients who have an interest in developing community standards for the diagnosis and treatment of concussions, Dr. Graw presented an update on the evolution of HeadFirst Concussion Care, nationally-recognized community model. The program is based on educational and athletic protocols that were established in collaboration with leading professionals.

A Board-certified pediatrician, Dr. Graw became involved with mTBI when his orthopedic surgeon son discussed with him the increasing number of sports-related injuries, especially head injuries.

HeadFirst began as Dr. Graw's brainchild in 2010 and was ahead of Maryland's youth concussion law (SB 771 and HB 858) that took effect in July 2011. To launch HeadFirst, Dr. Graw invited more than two dozen professionals to participate in a pioneering task force to bring awareness to sports-related concussions and to develop protocols.

Named the Concussion Consortium, the team continues to meet monthly and includes orthopedists, emergency physicians, pediatricians, neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists, neuro-optometrists, athletic coaches, trainers, physical and rehabilitative therapists, and school administrators and nurses from Anne Arundel, Montgomery, Howard and Baltimore Counties in Maryland.

The Consortium serves as a forum for sharing expertise, highlighting resources for concussion treatment, and helps families navigate the complex road to recovery from concussion. Members discuss new scientific developments and research, as well as to explore new return-to-learn and –activity protocols and educational outreach opportunities for student-athletes, their families and coaches.

In his presentation, Dr. Graw emphasized that, in order to minimize the long-term damage of concussions and encourage a satisfactory recovery time, a comprehensive return to play, school and work protocol must take place within a framework of collaborative care comprised of providers, specialists, coaches/athletic trainers, schools and recreational leagues, as well as the athletes and their families. This includes adhering to comprehensive guidelines that ensure the law is followed.

As a result of performing thousands of free ImPACT® concussion baseline tests and caring for injured patients, HeadFirst Concussion Care has compiled an informative database that is being used to enhance the guidelines of medical care for MTBI. Among findings made by HeadFirst are:

• school-aged children sustain the largest number of concussions;
• the recovery rate of females is substantially longer than their male counterparts; and
• non-sports-related brain injuries comprise the majority of concussion diagnoses, which include falls, motor vehicle accidents, bullying and domestic abuse.

Beyond its clinics and community outreach, HeadFirst Concussion Care serves to educate the general public through information on its website, on its Concussion Discussion blog, and through social media. HeadFirst Concussion Care also served as a sponsor of the Brain Injury Association of Maryland's conference, and team members attended to educate participants about its services.

Currently operating eleven state-of–the-art Care Centers in Maryland, Righttime Medical Care provides immediate medical care to all ages, from 7am to midnight, 365 days a year. In collaboration with Righttime Medical Care, Headfirst Concussion Care evaluates and treats individuals of all ages with mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) at its nine centers and helps patients make a safe return to work, school and play. HeadFirst also provides free concussion baseline testing for individuals and sports teams as well as a community concussion awareness program. Learn more at myHeadFirst.com.

Contact: Ann-Marie Sedor / 443-332-4260 x8130

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SOURCE Righttime Medical Care