New concussion program will provide a mental health safety net for 133 teams and over 3000 players across the country

SASKATOON, Sept. 25, 2018 /CNW/ - The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) and The Co-operators announced today the first national concussion program available across the CJHL to safeguard player mental and physical wellbeing. The CJHL Concussion Program Funded by The Co-operators establishes a mandatory concussion protocol for the CJHL that will implement clear guidelines for the recognition, assessment, and management of concussion.

"Player safety is our number one priority," said Brent Ladds, President of the CJHL. "The long-term effects of concussion are a growing concern for our organization, our athletes and their families. This is a major milestone for improving concussion management standards in junior hockey. We are grateful to the SJHL Assistance Program which provided the foundation for this program. Thanks to the partnership with The Co-operators we are able to make it available to our players across the league."

Although most individuals who suffer concussion recover without lasting effect, research shows that 10–20% of concussion patients may face a difficult recovery, sometimes leading to mental health issues¹.

"We recognize that junior hockey players can be vulnerable to concussions because they're playing a contact sport. We want to support them as they pursue their hockey careers by providing an extra safety net with this concussion program," said Kevin Daniel, Executive Vice President at Co-operators Life Insurance Company.  "We see supporting initiatives like this that protect mental health, especially for youth, as an essential part of our commitment to building healthier, more sustainable communities. We're proud to work with the CJHL on this national concussion program to provide peace of mind for parents, players and the league." 

The CJHL Concussion Program will use innovative mobile and web-based software from HeadCheck Health, Inc. (HeadCheck) that will allow team trainers to perform the concussion protocol and the league to monitor compliance. Under the new program, a player's concussion history will be digitally tracked and transferred with them for more informed healthcare decisions. "We look forward to working with the CJHL to ensure that all players, regardless of team or skill level, will be afforded the same level of concussion care, said Harrison Brown, CEO of HeadCheck. "We're very pleased that The Co-operators are aligned in our mission of improving player safety."

HeadCheck and the CJHL will regularly review aggregate data and continuously improve the program.

About CJHL
The Canadian Junior Hockey League is a national organization comprised of 10 Junior A hockey leagues in Canada.  The CJHL represents 133 teams and more than 3,000 players. The CJHL operates under the auspices of the Hockey Canada Branch structure and is a member in good standing within Hockey Canada. The CJHL is the only sanctioned Junior A Hockey League in Canada and has over 3,000 alumni furthering their hockey careers at the professional, major junior and college levels across North America. The CJHL is comprised of the BCHL, AJHL, SJHL, MJHL, SIJHL, NOJHL, OJHL, LHJQ, CCHL, and MHL. For more information on CJHL please visit http://www.cjhlhockey.com

About The Co-operators:

The Co-operators Group Limited is a Canadian co-operative with more than $41 billion in assets under administration. Through its group of companies it offers home, auto, life, group, travel, commercial and farm insurance, as well as investment products.  The Co-operators is well known for its community involvement and its commitment to sustainability. The Co-operators is listed among the Best Employers in Canada by Aon Hewitt and Corporate Knights' Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada. For more information, visit www.cooperators.ca.

About HeadCheck Health, Inc

HeadCheck provides concussion management software that is customized to the requirements of any concussion policy. A mobile app can be used to document suspected concussions, run concussion assessments and track an athlete's concussion history. An enhanced web dashboard provides an overview of testing activity, more thorough athlete management, and the monitoring of concussion policy adherence. The system provides medical and non-medical roles to support the varying medical qualifications of individuals working with teams. All data is securely stored and meets the latest health privacy standards. Over 400 organizations across North America use HeadCheck as their primary tool for concussion management, including the CJHL, BC Hockey, UBC, Edmonton Oil Kings, BC Rugby, Eastern Washington University, Rugby Ontario, St. George's School, and Okotoks Minor Hockey. For more information visit http://www.headcheckhealth.com

CJHL Concussion Program Funded by The Co-operators

HeadCheck Fact Sheet

HeadCheck Health provides concussion management software to help the CJHL's 10 Member Leagues perform their concussion protocol as part of the new CJHL Concussion Program Funded by The Co-operators. The software will allow each league and the CJHL itself to monitor compliance to the protocol and find areas to make player safety improvements.

How It Works

• Team trainers utilize HeadCheck to document suspected concussions and perform any concussion testing required by the protocol
• Player history can be transferred from team-to-team or league-to-league with authorization
• Concussion history for all players will be securely stored in the HeadCheck system
• Information can be transferred with the player to medical professionals for proper diagnosis
• Care partners such as clinics will receive access to HeadCheck to log any notes or perform additional assessments
• Medical clearance can be run through HeadCheck to ensure players only return-to-play with proper clearance
• League can monitor protocol compliance through HeadCheck's web dashboard
• HeadCheck and league commissioners review reporting on aggregate data to make safety improvements

HeadCheck Service

• Technology training sessions for all individuals using the mobile app
• Create profiles for all 3000k athletes and any new players who enter the leagues
• Set up accounts for partner clinics and authorized personnel
• Handle trades and player movement
• 24/7 ongoing customer support
• Customized reporting and review sessions with commissioners
• Certified AT support for any baseline testing required by teams
• Notifications and alerts are sent out when suspected concussions are logged in the system

About HeadCheck Health, Inc

HeadCheck provides concussion management software that is customized to the requirements of any concussion policy. A mobile app can be used to document suspected concussions, run concussion assessments and track an athlete's concussion history. An enhanced web dashboard provides an overview of testing activity, more thorough athlete management, and the monitoring of concussion policy adherence. The system provides medical and non-medical roles to support the varying medical qualifications of individuals working with teams. All data is securely stored and meets the latest health privacy standards. Over 400 organizations across North America use HeadCheck as their primary tool for concussion management, including the CJHL, BC Hockey, UBC, BC Rugby, Eastern Washington University, Rugby Ontario, St. George's School, and Okotoks Minor Hockey. For more information visit http://www.headcheckhealth.com

SOURCE The Co-operators