Chicago-based GE Healthcare and Texas' NFL team, the Houston Texans, are working with Houston Methodist Concussion Center to launch a two-year telemedicine pilot project.
The project will leverage online video conferencing to bring comprehensive concussion care to student athletes at 19 school districts in rural Texas. When a student athlete has a suspected concussion, a Houston Methodist athletic trainer will travel to school or athletic facility to conduct a concussion evaluation, while a Houston Methodist Concussion Center physician directs the examination through an online video connection. The project focuses on school districts in rural areas, since these students may not have timely access to specialized care.
Following the two-year pilot, the Houston Texans, GE Healthcare and Houston Methodist Concussion Center hope to launch a statewide program to provide all student athletes in Texas access to online concussion care.