Arizona - January 2015 Archives

Phoenix, AZ — Concussions are in the national spotlight for the damage being done to student and professional athletes. Determining when an athlete should be removed from play is a major challenge in preventing injury. Athletes routinely deny symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that between 1.6 and 3.8 million students have concussions every year. In an effort to bring awareness and increase concussion screening, Mayo Clinic has agreed to a licensing agreement with King-Devick Test Inc., which has developed a proven indicator of ocular motor, visual and cognitive function for concussion detection and evaluation on the sidelines of sporting events to help with the decision to sideline athletes to prevent injury. Under the terms of the agreement, King-Devick and Mayo Clinic will form a scientific governance committee and Mayo will have membership on the company’s board of directors. Packaging for the test will indicate it is offered in association with Mayo Clinic. Revenue Mayo receives will be used to support its nonprofit mission in patient care, education and research. The King-Devick Test is a quick, accurate and objective concussion screening tool that can be administered on the sidelines by parents, coaches, athletic trainers, school nurses and medical professionals, and a Mayo Clinic study indicated it detects concussions and possible 'silent' concussions. Click here to listen to audio from today's news conference. Click here for a transcript of today's news conference. MEDIA CONTACT: Jim McVeigh, Mayo Clinic Public Affairs, 507-284-5005, newsbureau@mayo.edu

WHAT:  Audio news conference about an agreement between Mayo Clinic and King-Devick to bring an objective concussion screening tool that can be administered on the sidelines by parents, coaches, athletic trainers, school nurses and medical professionals. Click here to listen to the audio from today's news conference. WHO:  Mayo Clinic and King-Devick David Dodick, M.D., Mayo Clinic Neurologist, Director, Mayo Clinic Concussion Program Steve Devick, founder and developer of the King-Devick Test WHEN:  Tuesday, Jan. 27 8:30 a.m. (MST) CALL-IN: Journalists can join the call at: 800-768-2481. RSVP: Emily Blahnik at blahnik.emily@mayo.edu or 507-538-7404. INFO: Journalists who are registered members of Mayo Clinic News Network will have access to materials under embargo at https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/. Journalists can register at https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/request-account/.