London, Ont. - A $250,000 donation from Andrew and Helen Spriet will help London Health Sciences Centre's Fowler Kennedy Sport Medicine Clinic meet an anticipated increase of patient volume for concussion care.
"Our family has been supporting the Fowler Kennedy Sport Medicine Clinic since its initial conception and we are pleased that it has developed a great history and reputation, becoming well-known in its field of expertise and a great asset for our favourite city of London," says Andy Spriet.
Concussions are traumatic brain injuries usually caused by a blow to the head or from blows to the body that are transmitted to the head. In most cases, the trauma changes brain function temporarily but it can have longer-term effects. The demand for concussion care at the clinic has grown exponentially year-over-year. There was a 27.8 per cent increase in patient visits from 2013 to 2014 and another rise of 15.5 per cent from 2014 to 2015.
Due to these increases, substantial changes in the program were necessary.
Research demonstrates that effective intervention for concussion must be early, easily accessible, supportive, and educational. A robust plan for concussion care expansion has already begun. As a first step, two years ago Physician Assistant Jennifer Petrakos was hired.
"A physician assistant provides us with the opportunity to deliver enhanced care to more patients and to continue with our collaborative research at Western,” says the clinic’s Director of Primary Care Sport Medicine Dr. Lisa Fischer.
Petrakos meets with every new patient, obtains their history, determines the cause of injury, and conducts a physical exam. Following a visit with the primary care doctor, she follows up with patients, monitoring their progress, making recommendations on treatment and possible rehabilitation programs, to insure a safe return to work, sport and active life.
The Spriet donation, through London Health Sciences Foundation, will continue to fully fund the physician assistant position for the next five years.
"Supporting the treatment of 3,000 concussion patient visits annually is an amazing illustration of the impact community support can have on health care,” says LHSF President & CEO John MacFarlane.