ImPACT Concussion Testing Service

Bonutti Clinic is once again renewing its commitment to help evaluate concussions in area student athletes as a no-cost service. The Clinic offers a diagnostic program, called ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) to help evaluate concussions. The ImPACT program is being offered to the area schools that currently utilize Bonutti Clinic athletic trainers. Those schools include Effingham, St. Anthony and Newton.

In July 2011, the State of Illinois passed a law requiring school boards to develop clear guidelines to educate coaches, student athletes and their parents. Today, Illinois is one of 38 states with concussion laws in place. Support for this new legislation includes medical associations, youth sport communities, school boards and parent organizations.

According to athletic trainer for Bonutti Clinic, Troy VanBlaricum, the ImPACT program has many benefits. "The ImPACT program is an additional tool we can use to help detemrine if a student is ready to return to play after a concussion,"' He adds, "It gives us objective data to help support the findings from other evaluation processes."