Good Read: Players Disqualified By Concussions Are Recruited Back

[StanCuse44]

Interesting. Lots of 'Cuse mentions (E.g., AJ Long, Luke Arciniega, +)

http://www.statnews.com/2016/01/08/concussions-college-football-players/

 

[Whitey23]

 

[anglerman]

This is exactly why SU should not have a family practice physician making medical decions about concussions. They simply are not qualified to do so.

 

[StanCuse44]

This is exactly why SU should not have a family practice physician making medical decions about concussions. They simply are not qualified to do so.

Yes, it seems asinine to have a family practitioner as a decision maker on this. I'd like to see this explained further by SUA.

 

[rrlbees]

This is exactly why SU should not have a family practice physician making medical decions about concussions. They simply are not qualified to do so.

He is fully qualified to follow protocol in assessing concussions.

 

[klemmer56]

This is exactly why SU should not have a family practice physician making medical decions about concussions. They simply are not qualified to do so.

I disagree here. From the point of the family / coaching staff relationship, this is certainly a positive. As HCDB and his staff can tell the families of current and potential recruits that your son won't be looked at by a "suit" whose sole responsiblity is to keep their son on the field no matter the cost, but a family practicing doctor who will always have the players best interest at heart.

I have never been part of recruiting in any way, but if a coach told me this it would be a huge selling point to me, and I would use that to persuade my kid into considering that school.

 

[Crusty]

He may be qualified, but I wouldn't take my kid to a family practitioner to evaluate a concussion. Simply doesn't seem to be the best practise today. That's just me.

 

[maxxyz]

He may be qualified, but I wouldn't take my kid to a family practitioner to evaluate a concussion. Simply doesn't seem to be the best practise today. That's just me.

The SU Concussion Policy is in place exclusively to protect the university from future litigation. Having a policy that uses an inconsistent evaluation method (no matter how competent the specialist) as the basis of determining whether a player is brain injury cleared would provide a much lower level of protection for the school.

 

[Orijinal]

I truly appreciate Syracuse's stringent concussion policy even though it has cost us a handful of promising players. This is the way to be above board and makes me even more of a fan of Syracuse.

 

[orlandoorange]

He may be qualified, but I wouldn't take my kid to a family practitioner to evaluate a concussion. Simply doesn't seem to be the best practise today. That's just me.

Right, pretty big jump to Neuro from GP

 

[orange79]

Interesting. Lots of 'Cuse mentions (E.g., AJ Long, Luke Arciniega, +)

http://www.statnews.com/2016/01/08/concussions-college-football-players/

This story appeared on the front page of the Boston Globe today, above the fold. Sobering article.

 

[dollarbill44]

The SU Concussion Policy is in place exclusively to protect the university from future litigation. Having a policy that uses an inconsistent evaluation method (no matter how competent the specialist) as the basis of determining whether a player is brain injury cleared would provide a much lower level of protection for the school.

Why would the use of a neurosurgeon instead of a GP be inconsistent? Or are you saying that the current method is inconsistent? Either way, I don't think it is inconsistent.

 

[Pyle]

I disagree here. From the point of the family / coaching staff relationship, this is certainly a positive. As HCDB and his staff can tell the families of current and potential recruits that your son won't be looked at by a "suit" whose sole responsiblity is to keep their son on the field no matter the cost, but a family practicing doctor who will always have the players best interest at heart.

I have never been part of recruiting in any way, but if a coach told me this it would be a huge selling point to me, and I would use that to persuade my kid into considering that school.

Opposing recruiter: "Do you really want to send your son to Syracuse where potentially life changing decisions are made by a general practitioner or 'name of school' where we have a qualified neurologist on staff to give the best possible diagnosis every day during recovery?"

 

[wfschrec]

Opposing recruiter: "Do you really want to send your son to Syracuse where potentially life changing decisions are made by a general practitioner or 'name of school' where we have a qualified neurologist on staff to give the best possible diagnosis every day during recovery?"

Or would you like to send your son to a school where they take extra precautions with your child and let them finish with an education without risking what could end up being their lives in the long run? Luke Cain (RIP) is a fine example of why SU has policies like this in place. AJ Long has every opportunity to finish with a degree and obtain an education, all it takes is one hard hit he could lose everything before he even hits 40 years of age.

 

[Pyle]

Or would you like to send your son to a school where they take extra precautions with your child and let them finish with an education without risking what could end up being their lives in the long run? Luke Cain (RIP) is a fine example of why SU has policies like this in place. AJ Long has every opportunity to finish with a degree and obtain an education, all it takes is one hard hit he could lose everything before he even hits 40 years of age.

I'd rather have my son diagnosed by a specialist. When I got my ACL replaced, I went to someone who specialized in knees, not just a general orthopedic surgeon. I'm not saying SU's policies are misplaced but they should be diagnosed by a specialist.

 

[rrlbees]

I'd rather have my son diagnosed by a specialist. When I got my ACL replaced, I went to someone who specialized in knees, not just a general orthopedic surgeon. I'm not saying SU's policies are misplaced but they should be diagnosed by a specialist.

A GP can be trained in a specific protocol. I'd also bet that if there is something in a gray area, they consult a neuro.

 

[DMDMD]

A GP can be trained in a specific protocol. I'd also bet that if there is something in a gray area, they consult a neuro.

I think the most important part for the physician is 1) interest in concussions and 2) experience with concussions. He seems to have been in sports medicine for a long time, his actual specialty isn't that relevant. However, from a public relations standpoint given the increased attention on concussions recently, it would look better if we had a "concussion specialist," whatever that means. I'm a bit surprised that they are disqualifying kids from further participation without specialty referral though. UPITT has an excellent center that is not too far away. IMO kids who want to continue to participate but about whom the staff has concerns, should be sent for outside, independent specialty referral and we accept whatever conclusion they and the kid's family comes up with.

 

[maxxyz]

Why would the use of a neurosurgeon instead of a GP be inconsistent? Or are you saying that the current method is inconsistent? Either way, I don't think it is inconsistent.

If a specialist is making decisions where one player is disqualified after two incidents and another is disqualified after five, it leads to potential litigation over the accuracy of the diagnosis if there are health related issues later on. By having a policy based solely on "three strikes and you're out", it takes the question of diagnostics out almost entirely and makes legal defense easier.

Again, this policy is not about player health; it is about protection from lawsuits.

 

[wfschrec]

I'd rather have my son diagnosed by a specialist. When I got my ACL replaced, I went to someone who specialized in knees, not just a general orthopedic surgeon. I'm not saying SU's policies are misplaced but they should be diagnosed by a specialist.

I agree but I think erroring on the side of caution is the best way to go from an SU perspective. That whole Luke Cain story is really sad .. these guys are so young and have so much in front of them.

 

[cuseincincy]

My son is a current HS senior being recruited by several D2 schools and has had one D1 school contact him with some interest. I am very familiar with the "concussion protocol" at least at our HS. My son has been fortunate and not had to go through this though my younger son has due to concussions received playing basketball. Bottom line is that no GP can clear any player at our school for playing. Each player is required to go through the concussion clinic at Cincinnati Childrens Hospital. If he is not cleared by the concussion clinic, he does not play. The only gray area is that most neurosurgeons in Cincinnati that deal with children are affiliated with Children's Hospital and I know of one case where a family already had a neurosurgeon and they took their son to his office which is not part of the "Concussion Clinic" but he is accredited at Children's Hospital. Short story long, no GP, or Pediatrician, can clear a player to return to competition. I've got no problem with SU being conservative and not allowing players with multiple concussions risk further injury. I do question the involvement of a GP. I also wonder why there is not some sort of "concussion clinic" created in the Syracuse area? Its a large enough metro area to have enough need for that specialization.