ISU-Meridian team screens 100 people for traumatic brain injury
September 20, 2018
BOISE—Idaho State University-Meridian senior research associate Russell Spearman and his volunteer team screened more than 100 people for traumatic brain injury or TBI at the AMEN Free Clinic in Boise, Sept. 12-14.
They screened adults ranging in age from 18 to 80 and referred 24 of them for additional screening to low-cost clinics, including ISU’s Speech and Language and Counseling clinics.
Spearman’s team consisted of 12 students representing nursing, physician assistant studies, speech language pathology and counseling departments and administrative staff from the ISU Institute of Rural Health. This was the second year Spearman provided TBI screenings at the AMEN clinic which offered free dental, medical and health information services to more than 1,450 people in the Treasure Valley.
AMEN clinics, which operate nationally, are staffed by medical and nonmedical volunteers.
An estimated 35,000 Idahoans are living with a severe brain injury—defined by medical officials as a blow or trauma to the head that can affect various levels of cognitive function.
ISU is the state’s lead agency responsible for developing a comprehensive support system for TBI survivors, their families and caregivers.