|
Post by title1parent on Jul 1, 2008 6:08:04 GMT -5
Dist. 204 hopes to begin heart testing athletes soon
By Justin Kmitch | Daily Herald Staff Writer Published: 7/1/2008 12:09 AM
The effort may not have been in time to save Zamarri Doby's life, but Indian Prairie Unit District 204 officials say they have been trying since March to provide free heart screenings for their students.
District officials said Monday they've increased their efforts in the wake of Zamarri's June 22 death, apparently caused by an enlarged heart also known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM.
Zamarri, a 16-year-old Waubonsie Valley High School junior, died after he collapsed while playing basketball at Plainfield South High School.
Superintendent Stephen Daeschner said new community relations director Jason Altenbern began pushing for such a program shortly after he was hired in March. Deputy Superintendent Kathy Birkett has been working with him to get a deal done.
"For two months, those individuals have been working to get 204 involved in a program that would screen our students for cardiac illnesses," Daeschner said. "I can't put a time frame on it but I'm confident we'll get this thing done soon."
Altenbern referred questions to district spokeswoman Janet Buglio, who said Monday that principals and athletic directors have been involved in the process, as have officials from Naperville Unit District 203.
The Midwest Heart Foundation began offering free EKGs to DuPage County high school students in 2006. Since then, it has screened 19,000 people, of which 2 percent showed abnormalities requiring additional testing.
The foundation also began EKG screenings of students at Naperville North and Naperville Central high schools who had their parents' permission. Beginning this fall, all District 203 high school students, not just athletes, will have been screened.
"Jason's focus has been on establishing business partnerships with the district and Midwest is another partnership he's pursuing," Buglio said. "Our interest in forming that partnership has certainly increased due to last week's tragic death."
Several Midwest officials were unavailable by telephone Monday.
Buglio said the district is looking into funding options for the program in case the grants Midwest receives would not cover the cost of partnering with the district.
|
|
|
Post by Arch on Jul 1, 2008 8:30:47 GMT -5
The sooner the better.
|
|
|
Post by gatordog on Jul 1, 2008 12:20:52 GMT -5
Buglio said the district is looking into funding options for the program in case the grants Midwest receives would not cover the cost of partnering with the district. To give idea of scale, per the Sports illustrated article i reference in another thread: EKG cost ~$50. followup test if something seen echocardiogram -- or echo, for short -- an ultrasound that gives a real-time picture of the heart and costs $1,000 to $2,000. Concerning these tests, For a cardiologist reading these results, it is not completely straightforward. Many top atheletes have enlarged strong hearts from exercise. Genetic testing is in the works (but that of course has other isssues) Given the hereditary nature..... "Asking whether there is anyone in the family who has died before the age of 50 of cardiovascular causes is incredibly valuable," says Dr. David Glover, a Warrensburg, Mo., physician and expert in presports participation screening, "and that doesn't cost a nickel." Here is question: what if a 204 athlete was screened and recommended to take the second level test and it would not be covered by their own health insurance? In a national context...."The U.S. health care system does not have the mechanisms to pay for an ECG for every athlete," says Lisa Salberg, who has HCM and founded the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association. "Nor do we have enough trained professionals to evaluate the results. There would be a lot of athletes placed on alert for no reason, and a lot of missed diagnoses." We may be fortunate to be in an area that can afford this, and have access to people who can reliably interpret the results. That is good if we do.
|
|
|
Post by Arch on Jul 1, 2008 13:25:03 GMT -5
Call me crazy and old fashioned but here's an idea:
Don't engage in the sport.
|
|
|
Post by doctorwho on Jul 1, 2008 14:07:25 GMT -5
Buglio said the district is looking into funding options for the program in case the grants Midwest receives would not cover the cost of partnering with the district. To give idea of scale, per the Sports illustrated article i reference in another thread: EKG cost ~$50. followup test if something seen echocardiogram -- or echo, for short -- an ultrasound that gives a real-time picture of the heart and costs $1,000 to $2,000. Concerning these tests, For a cardiologist reading these results, it is not completely straightforward. Many top atheletes have enlarged strong hearts from exercise. Genetic testing is in the works (but that of course has other isssues) Given the hereditary nature..... "Asking whether there is anyone in the family who has died before the age of 50 of cardiovascular causes is incredibly valuable," says Dr. David Glover, a Warrensburg, Mo., physician and expert in presports participation screening, "and that doesn't cost a nickel." Here is question: what if a 204 athlete was screened and recommended to take the second level test and it would not be covered by their own health insurance? In a national context...."The U.S. health care system does not have the mechanisms to pay for an ECG for every athlete," says Lisa Salberg, who has HCM and founded the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association. "Nor do we have enough trained professionals to evaluate the results. There would be a lot of athletes placed on alert for no reason, and a lot of missed diagnoses." We may be fortunate to be in an area that can afford this, and have access to people who can reliably interpret the results. That is good if we do. As the parent of 2 daughters- athletes who both had further screening, yes many of us are lucky enough to afford it. Because of rigid training from when they were very young, both raised flags. Both came back fine thank God, but are the tests 100% proof nothing will ever happen. Nope. They are very good for identifying serious issues though - and I would always want to have the best info possible from which decisions can be made. If you decide to participate you take a risk no matter what. When you get up in the morning and go out and get in a car or on a bike, or on a bus, one also takes a risk. Most people try and minimize risk- but also balance risk and reward.
|
|
|
Post by gatordog on Jul 1, 2008 14:33:17 GMT -5
Call me crazy and old fashioned but here's an idea: Don't engage in the sport. arch, are you saying if the first pass $50 dollar test comes back positive, with a possiblity (maybe a fair possiblity) that its a false positive....the kid should be banned from sports? Dr who, sounds like you had this very experience with your daughters, where further testing was warrented, but the closer look came back negative (thank God!) My question is: would the distict PROHIBIT somebody from playing sports based on the first level cheap test? Somewhere a doctor has to get involved for each particular case. For the persons health, regardless of sports! (should you avoid exerting yourself for work? etc) Would SD force them to get a doctor's permission? Dont we already do that, but now their would be a EKG report with a flag or no-flag on it? Would they require further testing? I could easily see this become a financial issue for some families. Or telling a kid, no you cant play---and there may or may not be a valid reason for telling you that be we cannot know for sure. For many, sports is a very positive part of their lives. Here is a quote from a doctor in the context of the "gold standard" genetic testing (NOT merely a first level EKG).: But should all patients know everything about their genome? Even experts aren't certain. "I see some kids, and they don't have a family history of death and they don't have symptoms or a very thick heart, and I don't think a lot of them are at great risk," says Thompson, a former marathoner who competed in the 1972 Olympic trials. "I usually say to them, 'I don't think you're at great risk, but I have to sleep at night, and I can't take a chance with you, so I'm prohibiting you.' For some acne-stained 17-year-old who's accepted at that high school because he's a good linebacker, to tell him that's gone is a load."
|
|
|
Post by Arch on Jul 1, 2008 15:41:03 GMT -5
Beef up the waivers that get signed but strongly recommend the family follows up with more testing and if necessary, yes prohibit the student.
I had an 'interesting' echo result a few years ago. As a result I pulled myself out of Karate training.
We all have choices to make.
|
|
|
Post by gatordog on Jul 1, 2008 15:52:51 GMT -5
Beef up the waivers that get signed but strongly recommend the family follows up with more testing and if necessary, yes prohibit the student. I had an 'interesting' echo result a few years ago. As a result I pulled myself out of Karate training. We all have choices to make. yes we all have choices to make. We make choices as a society too. One of those choices is to let ~20% of babies born in the US have no pre-natal care. Thank God our children had the benefit of that. And that they would have further testing as well, if such heart issues arose.
|
|
|
Post by Arch on Jul 1, 2008 15:56:29 GMT -5
Beef up the waivers that get signed but strongly recommend the family follows up with more testing and if necessary, yes prohibit the student. I had an 'interesting' echo result a few years ago. As a result I pulled myself out of Karate training. We all have choices to make. yes we all have choices to make. We make choices as a society too. One of those choices is to let ~20% of babies born in the US have no pre-natal care. Thank God our children had the benefit of that. And that they would have further testing as well, if such heart issues arose. What does prenatal care have to do with sport fitness qualifications? The School District is not in the health care insurance business. Sounds like you need to speak to the county or state for that coverage.
|
|
|
Post by doctorwho on Jul 1, 2008 16:19:19 GMT -5
Call me crazy and old fashioned but here's an idea: Don't engage in the sport. arch, are you saying if the first pass $50 dollar test comes back positive, with a possiblity (maybe a fair possiblity) that its a false positive....the kid should be banned from sports? Dr who, sounds like you had this very experience with your daughters, where further testing was warrented, but the closer look came back negative (thank God!) My question is: would the distict PROHIBIT somebody from playing sports based on the first level cheap test? Somewhere a doctor has to get involved for each particular case. For the persons health, regardless of sports! (should you avoid exerting yourself for work? etc) Would SD force them to get a doctor's permission? Dont we already do that, but now their would be a EKG report with a flag or no-flag on it? Would they require further testing? I could easily see this become a financial issue for some families. Or telling a kid, no you cant play---and there may or may not be a valid reason for telling you that be we cannot know for sure. For many, sports is a very positive part of their lives. Here is a quote from a doctor in the context of the "gold standard" genetic testing (NOT merely a first level EKG).: But should all patients know everything about their genome? Even experts aren't certain. "I see some kids, and they don't have a family history of death and they don't have symptoms or a very thick heart, and I don't think a lot of them are at great risk," says Thompson, a former marathoner who competed in the 1972 Olympic trials. "I usually say to them, 'I don't think you're at great risk, but I have to sleep at night, and I can't take a chance with you, so I'm prohibiting you.' For some acne-stained 17-year-old who's accepted at that high school because he's a good linebacker, to tell him that's gone is a load." I am willing to guess that a lot of very trainned athletes would have this flag come up. As far as approval or not to play - it would warrant a look to see what 203 is doing and others. They have been at this level of testing already. The only case I am aware of is the NU one and the diagnosis there was very specific and not very good for that athlete.
|
|
|
Post by steckdad on Jul 1, 2008 21:02:54 GMT -5
Beef up the waivers that get signed but strongly recommend the family follows up with more testing and if necessary, yes prohibit the student. I had an 'interesting' echo result a few years ago. As a result I pulled myself out of Karate training. We all have choices to make. man...If I can't practice KA-RA-TAY, I don't want to live!
|
|
|
Post by asmodeus on Jul 2, 2008 8:42:52 GMT -5
I disagree with the SD getting involved in this kind of testing.
|
|
|
Post by JWH on Jul 2, 2008 10:09:00 GMT -5
I disagree with the SD getting involved in this kind of testing. Give me a good reason why?
|
|
|
Post by specialneedsmom on Jul 2, 2008 12:09:24 GMT -5
This will be an interesting issue as it unfolds. Ultimately it will have to be defined as a legal issue: what is this district's or any other district's liability? I don't know whether I agree with that but that's where this will end up, IMO.
|
|
|
Post by asmodeus on Jul 2, 2008 12:16:51 GMT -5
I disagree with the SD getting involved in this kind of testing. Give me a good reason why? There have been so few instances in which someone died from an undetected heart condition in high school athletics that I think it is a waste of resources and, as mentioned, may actually create enough false positives that many kids/parents will be discouraged from participating.
|
|