Best Practices and Current Care Concepts in Prehospital Care of the Spine-Injured Athlete

Course Description: This presentation will focus on the conclusions and recommendations of the best practices document, discussing how the recommendations will impact the EAP planning process, medical time-out prior to athletic events, clinical skill development, and the importance of team concept with rescuers from a variety of backgrounds and training (EMS, AT, MD). BOC Domains of Athletic Training: Domain I - Risk Reduction, Wellness, and Health Literacy Domain II - Clinical Evaluation and Diagnosis Domain Ill - Critical Incident Management Domain V - Healthcare Administration and Professional Responsibility Practice Gap: Despite the importance of appropriate management of spine injuries, there exists a gap in the clinical practice of BOC athletic trainers and other providers regarding the latest national EMS spine injury standards and the different care options available in prehospital management of spine injuries. Furthermore, there is a need for BOC athletic trainers and other healthcare providers to review and improve their specialized techniques for transferring patients with spine injuries and football equipment removal techniques to ensure safe and optimal care for patients. Therefore, a comprehensive educational program on these topics is necessary to bridge this practice gap and enhance the quality of care provided by BOC athletic trainers in sports settings. Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: Provide an update on new national EMS spine injury standards Discuss different care options available in the prehospital management of spine injuries Review spine injury transfer techniques Review football equipment removal techniques Clinical Bottom Line: The clinical bottom line of this presentation is to emphasize the importance of incorporating the recommendations outlined in the best practices document to improve the EAP planning process, enhance clinical skill development, and emphasize the importance of a team concept among rescuers from various backgrounds and training (EMS, AT, MD). The presentation will provide an update on the latest national EMS spine injury standards, as well as discuss the different care options available for prehospital management of spine injuries, review specialized techniques for transferring patients with spine injuries, and review football equipment removal techniques. By implementing these best practices and recommendations, healthcare professionals can provide high-quality care to patients with spine injuries in sports settings and improve outcomes. Summary Conclusions: Incorporating the best practices recommendations is crucial to improve EAP planning and clinical skill development. The latest national EMS spine injury standards will be discussed to ensure up-to-date knowledge. Different care options for prehospital management of spine injuries will be covered. Specialized techniques for transferring patients with spine injuries and football equipment removal will be reviewed. Emphasizing the team concept among rescuers with diverse backgrounds and training is essential for optimal patient outcomes.

BIOGRAPHY Ron Courson currently serves as Executive Associate Athletic Director – Sports Medicine with the University of Georgia Athletic Association.  He joined the University of Georgia in May of 1995, after serving four years as Director of Rehabilitation at the University of Alabama. Prior to joining the Alabama staff in 1991, he served as an athletic trainer/physical therapist with Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. He received his undergraduate degree in education/physical education from Samford University, where he played soccer and ran track and field.  Ron performed two years of graduate work at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, and graduated with honors from the Medical College of Georgia in 1989 with a degree in physical therapy. He is a board certified clinical specialist in Sports Physical Therapy by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. Ron is additionally a nationally registered  advanced emergency medical technician as well as a certified strength and conditioning specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Ron has been involved in many athletic training activities including work as an athletic trainer with the U.S. Olympic Team at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea; 1990 Goodwill Games in Seattle; 1987 World University Games in Zagreb, Yugoslavia, 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis and the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. He served as the chief athletic trainer for the 1996 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials as well as the chief athletic trainer for track and field for the 1996 Olympic Games. Active in his profession, Ron has served as a member of the NCAA Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports committee.  He is a past president of the Southeastern Conference Sports Medicine Committee as well as chairman of the College and University Athletic Trainers' Committee of the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) and NATA liaison to the American Football Coaches Association.  During his tenure at Alabama, he served as president of the Alabama Athletic Trainers’ Association and as chair of the Alabama Board of Athletic Trainers. He served as a member of the D1A Athletic Directors Task Force on Student-Athlete Development. He currently serves on the NFL Health and Safety Committee. Ron was inducted into the Southeast Athletic Trainers’ Hall of Fame in 2011 and the NATA Hall of Fame in 2013. Ron is an adjunct instructor in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Georgia, teaching in the athletic training education program. He serves as a clinical instructor teaching physical therapy students from schools throughout the country.  He is active in sports medicine research and education, having authored a number of professional papers and text chapters.  He has served as lead or co-author with the NATA on position papers for emergency preparation, exertional heat illness, management of sudden cardiac arrest, management of head and cervical spine injuries, MRSA, and medical time out.  Ron co-chaired the national Spine Injuries in Sport Group, developing evidence-based medicine protocols for pre-hospital care of the spine injured athlete.  He developed the nation’s first Athletic Medicine Review Board, which provides independent oversight for the athletic medicine program at Georgia. Ron presents frequently at regional and national sports medicine meetings. He has testified before Congress as well as the Knight Commission and served on the White House “Stop the Bleed” Hemorrhage Control National Education Initiative. Ron is married to the former Eileen O'Connell of Waycross, Georgia. Eileen is a physical therapist who attended the University of Georgia and the Medical College of Georgia. Ron and Eileen have four children, John, Anna, Luke and Will.

Action Medicine Consultants, LLC (BOC AP#: P12095) is approved by the Board of Certification, Inc. to provide continuing education to Athletic Trainers (ATs). This program is eligible for a maximum of 1.0 Category A hours/CEUs. ATs should claim only those hours actually spent in the educational program. GENERAL DISCLAIMER: It is the responsibility of the participant, relying on the independent expertise and knowledge of the patient, to determine the best treatment and method of application for the patient. Participants must use discretion when using the information contained within this presentation.  The presenter has provided the following regarding disclaimers: The information and content provided in this course are for informational purposes only. The presenter nor Action Medicine Consultants, LLC bears no liability for your use of this information and content. The views expressed in this course are those of the presenter(s). CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: In compliance with continuing education requirements, all presenters must disclose any financial or other associations with the manufacturers of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services, or commercial supporters as well as any use of unlabeled product(s) or product(s) under investigational use.  This presentation does not involve the unlabeled use of a product or product under investigational use.  During the presentation, the presenter provides disclosure of any relevant financial relationships or other associations.  Refund Policy:  Live (virtual or in-person) Courses - Full refunds (Minus 10% for handling fees) are given after completion of the course if cancellation request is received 14 days prior to the course date. No refunds will be given after this deadline, but fees may be applied to another current or a future course. This also applies to virtual courses if a technical issue occurred on the presenter side that prevented a full presentation from being performed. On-Demand Courses - No refunds will be given, but fees may be applied to another current or a future course if there is a technical issue in Action Medicine Consultant's delivery of the course and in which no certificate of completion was issued.