In July 2010 Governor Patrick signed a law on
sports-related head injuries to promote the safety of young athletes in
Massachusetts. The law applies to public middle and high schools
serving grade 6 through high school graduation and other schools subject to the
official rules of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association. Schools
are now required to develop policies that address medical clearance and return
to play for students with sports-related head injuries.
As part of these regulations, there is a requirement that
by September 2013, physicians, nurse practitioners, certified
athletic trainers, and neuropsychologists providing medical clearance for return
to play shall verify that they have received Department-approved training in
traumatic head injury assessment and management or have received equivalent training as part of their licensure or continuing education.
The free training program, via the CDC, can be found here. The Mass. Department of Public Health has developed a
Medical Clearance Form to include an affirmation that the clinician providing
clearance has taken this approved Mass. DPH Clinical Training.
More information, options for Mass. DPH-approved clinical
training, and the Medical Clearance Form can be found at: www.mass.gov/dph/sportsconcussion.
For questions and additional information, please contact:
Linda Brown
Mass. Department of Public Health
(617) 624-5432
linda.brown@state.ma.us
