Hockey Concussion Safety Program Expands

The BC Hockey League is into the second year of a program to improve player safety when it comes to concussions.

The league is partnering with Headcheck Health to document the injuries and track treatment, with players and trainers using an app.

“They all have baseline testing that’s was done at the start of the season, and it just gives them an indicator: does the player need to go see a further professional,  or are they showing signs that are in line with their baseline, and they are able to return to play?” says Trevor Alto, the executive director of the league.

“It’s not ultimately solving the problem, but it’s a tool. It’s another tool that we can put in the hands of our medical professionals to assist them in recognizing that the player needs more care, and I think that’s the whole basis of it,” Alto tells Beach Radio News.

Alto says the technology is now being used by all ten leagues in the Canadian Junior Hockey League, and by BC Hockey.

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“I think it’s an excellent initiative, and I want to reiterate how happy we are to see we picked it up in the BC Hockey League, and that’s it’s spread to BC Hockey, and the CJHL, and it’s also in other sports.”

Alto says by having more teams using the same system, a player’s concussion history is able to move with them from team-to-team, leading to a better standard of care.

We were very pleased with the way the entire BCHL prioritized concussion safety and made every effort to improve the league’s concussion management procedures last season,” says Harrison Brown, Co-Founder and CEO of HeadCheck. “The partnership also allowed us to make significant upgrades to the concussion management software and services we provide based off their feedback.”

In addition to the software, the league was supplied with monthly reporting from HeadCheck that allowed them to identify any gaps in their concussion policy.

Team trainers received 24/7 customer support and regular info sessions were held to ensure everyone in the league was using the software to its fullest potential.

Click here to find out more about Headcheck Health.