A memorial fund in Nebraska is helping bring concussion baseline testing to an entire group of local student-athletes.
Kearney County Health Services (KCHS) recently announced the first project funded through its Healthcare Grant, established through the Richard “Dick” McBride memorial fund with the KCHS Medical Foundation.
For that first project, KCHS Director of Physical Therapy Ross Oberg worked with Minden Public Schools to provide Sway Concussion baseline testing to all student-athletes in grades 7–12.
The testing establishes an individual baseline for each athlete before an injury occurs. If a concussion is later suspected, healthcare providers can compare post-injury results with that athlete's baseline and consider any changes alongside the rest of their clinical evaluation.
“Having baseline information for our student-athletes gives us another valuable tool when a concussion is suspected,” Oberg said. “Every athlete is different, and being able to compare their results to their own baseline helps us make more informed decisions as we evaluate their recovery.”
Sway Concussion uses compatible mobile devices to provide objective balance and cognitive assessment data, allowing baseline testing to be completed without relying on a traditional computer-based testing setup.
For KCHS, the project also represents an opportunity to make additional sports medicine resources available locally.
KCHS CEO Luke Poore said access to the technology gives the healthcare team another resource for its patients and community while supporting the organization's commitment to comprehensive care.
And thanks to the McBride family's memorial fund, that investment is starting with local student-athletes.
The Healthcare Grant is expected to continue supporting healthcare initiatives throughout Kearney County and surrounding communities.