Catastrophic Injury Plan
Definition of a Catastrophic Incident-
1. Sudden Death of a student-athlete, coach, and/or Athletics staff member; 2. Disability / Quality of Life Altering injury / illness including, but not limited to:
• Spinal cord injury resulting in partial or complete paralysis; • Severe head injury;
• Injuries / illnesses resulting in severely diminished mental capacity or other
neurological injury that results in an inability to perform daily functions (e.g. coma);
• Irrecoverable loss of speech, hearing, sight, or one or both arm(s) and/or leg(s);
• Loss of a paired organ. 3. Other incidents as deemed appropriate.
Catastrophic Incident Management Team (CIMT)
• Edgar Johnson, Director of Athletics
• Susan Groff, Associate Director of Athletics
• E.F.Joseph Siebold, DO, Director of Student Health Services • Andrew Reisman, MD, Head Team Physician
• Geoffrey Gustavsen, MD, Team Physician • Keith Handling ATC, PT, Head Athletic Trainer • Joan Couch ATC, Associate Head Athletic Trainer • John Smith ATC, Assistant Athletic Trainer
• Dan Watson ATC, Assistant Athletic Trainer • University of Delaware Head Coaches
• Scott Selheimer Associate Director of Athletics, Media Relations • John Brennan, Director of Office of Public Relations
• Michael Gilbert, Vice President for Student Life
• Tim Morrissey, Director of Student Services for Athletes
• Charles L. Beale Ed.D, Director of Counseling and Student Development • Student Life Liaison
Catastrophic Incident Management Team Responsibilities:
TEAM CERTIFIED ATHLETIC TRAINER
• Accompanies or designates staff member to accompany the athlete to the hospital and
stays at hospital with athlete until relieved by other University of Delaware Athletic Staff; • Contacts the Team Physician after EMS has taken control of the scene and gives brief
summary of events;
• Updated by Team Physician regarding potential catastrophic incident;
• Communicate with the Team’s Head Coach regarding the athlete’s initial status at the medical facility with updates as warranted;
• Addresses the team with Head Coach as soon possible after the potential
catastrophic event. Update team on injured athlete’s status and reinforce that all media
inquiries should be referred to Media Relations;
• Assists with the collection and security of all equipment / materials involved in the incident;
• Assists the Director of Student Services for Athletes and the Associate Director of the Counseling Center coordinate the services of psychiatrists, psychologists, clergy, grief counselors for the use of all team and University personnel;
• Update team personnel and coaching staff with the status of the injured student-athlete after the event on an ongoing basis, in conjunction with the Team Physician, and the Head Coach;
• Assists the Head Athletic Trainer with the compilation of complete documentation of events from everyone involved in the incident with signatures;
• Assists with the construction of a detailed time line of events related to the incident;
• Other duties as needed and/or assigned.
ATHLETIC STAFF THAT ACCOMPANIES ATHLETE TO HOSPITAL
• Accompanies athlete to the hospital and stays at hospital with athlete until relieved by other University of Delaware Athletic Staff;
• Gives the Attending Physician in the Emergency Department a summary of events and the Team Physician’s phone number;
• Contacts Team Physician after care of athlete has been assumed by the Emergency Department;
• Other duties as needed or assigned. TEAM PHYSICIAN
• Contacted by UD Athletic staff regarding potential catastrophic incident;
• Informs Athletic Director, Director of Student Health, and Associate Director of
Media Relations of potential catastrophic event;
• Communicate directly with medical personnel at the facility regarding the catastrophic incident;
• Makes initial contact with the family regarding the catastrophic incident and
coordinates contact between the family and treating physicians, and continues to provide updates as warranted;
• Inform family that they will be contacted by a member of the Athletic Department who will be their primary liaison to the University and will assist in any way possible;
• Contact the Associate Director of Athletics after talking with the family so they can begin their support duties;
• In conjunction with Associate Director of Athletics and Head Athletic Trainer arrange for Athletic Department or Medical personnel to relieve Medical Staff that accompanied athlete to the hospital;
• Communicate with the Director of Athletics, the Director of the Student Health Service, the Associate AD for Media Relations, and the Team’s Certified Athletic Trainer regarding the athlete’s initial status at the medical facility with updates as warranted;
• Discuss event and athlete’s medical status with the athlete’s primary care physician if desired by the family;
• In consultation with the student-athlete’s family, medical personnel at the hospital, University of Delaware Director of Athletics, Asst Director for Media Relations, General Counsel, and other appropriate personnel, drafts, approves, and makes a public statement regarding the catastrophic incident;
• Assists with the coordination of return travel for the injured student-athlete back to Newark, DE or other appropriate location in conjunction with the family, medical personnel at the hospital, and other appropriate persons;
• Assist with arrangements for follow-up care and/or rehabilitation for the injured student-athlete in conjunction with the family, medical personnel at the facility and other appropriate persons;
• Assists with the coordination of arranging for psychiatrists, psychologists, clergy, grief counselors, etc. for the use of all team and University personnel;
• Assists with updates for team personnel as to the status of the injured student-athlete, in
conjunction with the Head Coach and the Team’s Certified Athletic Trainer; • Responsible for constructing a detailed time line of events related to the incident; • Assists with the filing of appropriate insurance claims (student-athlete’s primary
insurance, University of Delaware ICA secondary insurance, NCAA Catastrophic insurance, etc.) as needed;
• Other duties as needed.
DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS
• Contacted by Team Physician regarding potential catastrophic incident;
• Informs the Associate Athletic Director of the potential catastrophic incident;
• Assigns University of Delaware Department of Intercollegiate Athletics staff to assist with travel and lodging arrangements for the injured student-athlete’s family, be with the family at all times upon arrival, assist the family as needed, and protect them from outside persons.
• Informs University General Counsel of the potential catastrophic incident; • In consultation with the student-athlete’s family, medical personnel at the facility,
University of Delaware’s Team Physicians, General Counsel, Director of Sports Information, and other appropriate personnel, drafts, approves, and makes a public statement regarding the catastrophic incident.
DIRECTOR OF STUDENT HEALTH
• Contacted by Team Physician regarding potential catastrophic incident; • Informs University President of potential catastrophic incident;
• Informs Vice President of Student Life of potential catastrophic incident; • Provides updates to senior administration;
• Other duties as needed.
ASSOCIATE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
• Contacted by Athletic Director regarding potential catastrophic incident;
• After being notified by Team Physician, contacts the family and acts as primary University liaison to the family of the student-athlete;
• Assist with travel and lodging arrangements for the injured student-athlete’s family, informs the family that the Associate AD for Media Relations will be contacting them regarding press statements;
• In conjunction with Team Physician and Head Athletic Trainer arrange for Athletic
Department or Medical personnel to relieve Medical Staff that accompanied athlete to the hospital;
• Be with the family at all times upon arrival, assist the family as needed, and protect them from outside persons;
• Arranges for a private meeting space for all team and University personnel at the medical facility;
• Assists with the coordination of travel, lodging, and meal arrangements for University of Delaware Sports Medicine personnel as needed;
• Assists with the coordination of return travel for the injured student-athlete back to Newark, DE or other appropriate location in conjunction with the family / next of kin, medical personnel at the hospital, the Team Physician, and other appropriate persons;
• Provides guidance regarding the payment of expenses related to the catastrophic
incident;
• Assists with the filing of appropriate insurance claims (student-athlete’s primary insurance, University of Delaware ICA secondary insurance, NCAA Catastrophic insurance, etc.) as needed;
• Other duties as needed and/or assigned. HEAD COACH
• Contacted by Team Certified Athletic Trainer regarding potential catastrophic incident; • Address the team with Team’s Certified Athletic Trainer as soon possible after the
potential catastrophic event. Update team on injured athlete’s status and reinforce that
all media inquiries should be referred to Media Relations;
• Updates team personnel as to the status of the injured student-athlete, in conjunction with the Team Physician and the team’s Certified Athletic Trainer; • Mandate that student-athletes and other team personnel not discuss the catastrophic
incident until cleared to do so;
• Assists Team’s Certified Athletic Trainer with the coordination of arranging for psychiatrists, psychologists, clergy, grief counselors, etc. for the use of all team and University personnel;
• Assists with the compilation of complete documentation of events from everyone involved in the incident with signatures;
• Other duties as needed and/or assigned.
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS FOR MEDIA RELATIONS • Contacted by Team Physician regarding potential catastrophic incident;
• Informs Director of the University’s Office of Public Relations of the potential catastrophic incident;
• Contacts family once notified by Associate Director of Athletics, and obtains
permission from them for press statements;
• Serve as the “Official Spokesperson” regarding all aspects of the catastrophic incident in conjunction with the Director of Athletics, Team Physician and the medical personnel at
the facility;
• In consultation with the student-athlete’s family, medical personnel at the facility, Director of Athletics, Team Physician, General Counsel, and other appropriate personnel, drafts, approves, and makes public statements regarding the catastrophic incident;
• Responsible for keeping members of the media a safe distance from team and University personnel in and around the medical facility, hotel, etc.;
HEAD ATHLETIC TRAINER
• Contacted by Team Athletic Trainer regarding potential catastrophic incident;
• Responsible for collecting and securing all equipment / materials involved in the incident; • In conjunction with Team Physician and Associate Director of Athletics arrange for
Athletic Department or Medical personnel to relieve Medical Staff that accompanied athlete to the hospital;
• Responsible for compiling complete documentation of events (in conjunction with the University’s General Counsel) from everyone involved in the incident with signatures; • Assists with the construction of a detailed time line of events related to the incident; • Other duties as needed and/or assigned.
VICE PRESIDENT OF STUDENT LIFE
• Contacted by Director of Student Health Service regarding potential catastrophic
incident;
• Informs Director of Student Services for Athletes of the potential catastrophic incident.
DIRECTOR, STUDENT SERVICES FOR ATHLETES
• Contacted by Vice President of Student Life regarding potential catastrophic incident; • Contact Associate Director of Counseling and Student Development regarding
potential catastrophic incident;
• Contact Student Life Liaison regarding potential catastrophic incident;
• Contacts the Head Athletic Trainer for Team’s Certified Athletic Trainer contact information;
• Contacts the Team’s Certified Athletic Trainer to coordinate the services of
psychiatrists, psychologists, clergy, grief counselors for the use of all team and University personnel with the Counseling Center and Team Physician;
• Notify injured student athlete’s professors and the registrar regarding the potential catastrophic incident and its impact on class / grades;
• Assists Student Life Liaison with arrangements for any on campus memorial service; • Other duties as needed and/or assigned.
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, COUNSELING AND STUDENT DEVELOPMENT • Contacted by Director of Student Services for Athletes regarding potential
catastrophic incident;
• Coordinates the services of psychiatrists, psychologists, clergy, grief counselors for the use of all team and University personnel with the Director of Student Services for Athletes and the Team’s Certified Athletic Trainer;
• Coordinates the services of psychiatrists, psychologists, clergy, grief counselors for the use of all roommates and classmates of injured athlete with the Student Life Liaison; • Assists with updating team personnel as to the status of the injured student-athlete, in
conjunction with the Team Physician, the Head Coach, the Team’s Certified Athletic Trainer;
• Assists with arrangements for any on campus memorial service
• Provide and/or arrange for follow-up counseling post-incident to all needed parties; • Other duties as needed and/or assigned.
STUDENT LIFE LIAISON
• Contacted by Director of Student Services for Athletes regarding potential catastrophic incident;
• Identify and arrange for notification of roommates regarding potential catastrophic event;
• Coordinates the services of psychiatrists, psychologists, clergy, grief counselors for the use of all roommates, and classmates of injured athlete with the Associate Director of the Counseling Center;
• Make arrangements for any on-campus memorial service;
• Other duties as needed and/or assigned. UNIVERSITY GENERAL COUNSEL
• Contacted by Athletic Director regarding potential catastrophic incident;
• Communicates with the Director of Athletics on issues related to the catastrophic event; • In consultation with the student-athlete’s family, medical personnel at the facility, the
University of Delaware’s Team Physician, Director of Athletics, Associate Director of Athletics for Media Relations and other appropriate personnel, drafts, approves, and makes a public statement regarding the catastrophic incident;
• Assists with the collection and security of all equipment / materials involved in the incident;
• Oversees, with the assistance of the Head Athletic Trainer, the compilation of complete documentation of events from everyone involved in the incident with signatures; • Assists with the construction of a detailed time line of events related to the incident;
