Jersey City, NJ, March 24, 2023 — The Matthew J. Morahan III Health Assessment Center for Athletes (Morahan Center) at RWJBarnabas Health will provide free cardiac and concussion baseline screenings to young athletes on Saturday, April 15, 2023, from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm at Jersey City Medical Center Rehabilitation Center, 100 Town Square Place, Suite 208, Jersey City, NJ 07310.
“The screenings offered through The Matthew J. Morahan III Health Assessment Center for Athletes help families take a proactive approach to concussion and cardiac issues in our youth athletes,” explained Jason Krystofiak, MD, the program’s medical director and a provider with RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group. “The goal is not to terrify people with statistics, but to try to protect young athletes and also not take them out of the things they love to do,” he added.
When preliminary testing to identify serious cardiac problems is provided to young athletes, sudden cardiac arrest and tragic deaths may be avoided. “Nearly 90 percent of sudden cardiac deaths in young athletes occur during or after athletic activities, and hidden heart conditions are often the cause. Cardiac screening, open to 6-to 18-year-olds, will help to identify players who may require further testing or intervention,” Dr. Krystofiak explained.
FDA-approved ImPACT Pediatric® concussion screenings are available to young athletes, ages 5 and older (until recently, the screening was only available to those ages 10 and above). Having a concussion baseline study (ImPACT) can help identify issues in the future. ImPACT Pediatric is an iPad-based computerized test that is individually and easily administered as well as engaging for children, while effectively measuring neurocognitive function. Dr. Krystofiak said, “If an athlete is believed to have suffered a head injury, this screening test may be used to evaluate the severity and determine when it is safe to return to play.”
The Morahan Center provides education, assessment and evaluation of sports injury and sports-related cardiac and concussion screening. Offering one of the most comprehensive pre-season screening and concussion management centers in New Jersey, the center partners with over 30 primary, secondary and NCAA partnerships across the state of New Jersey and has provided 40,000 screenings to youth sports athletes since 2010.
Screenings are free of charge and a parent or guardian is asked to be present. An appointment is required. To request an appointment time, parents/guardians are asked to visit rwjbh.org/jcmcevents and search by event name. For your safety this program require masks to be worn by all participants; only one parent per family to attend to limit visitors, and social distancing.
For more information about the Matthew J. Morahan III Health Assessment Center for Athletes, visit rwjbh.org/morahan or call 973-322-7913.
Contact: Veronica Lavarro
Office: 201-395-7569
Mobile: 201-912-5143
E-mail: veronica.lavarro@rwjbh.org