Sage Donates $100,000 for Youth Screenings Program

Source: Centegra Health System press release

Sage Products LLC has donated $100,000 to support Centegra’s Youth Screenings Program, according to a Centegra Health System press release. 

The gift demonstrates Sage’s commitment to the well-being of McHenry County teens and their families and is a significant contribution to Centegra’s efforts to protect the community’s children.

“We are honored by this generous gift from our partners at Sage Products,” said Michael S. Eesley, president of Centegra Health System. “As an international health industry leader, Sage shares our dedication to providing local access to state-of-the art care and services.”

The youth screenings program provides concussion and cardiac screenings to teens in greater McHenry County. The donation from Sage Products will support Centegra’s effort to provide the screenings at a minimal cost so every teen in the area can receive the life-saving screenings. The gift also raises public awareness of the importance and availability of the screenings.

“Sage Products is proud to support this important program, which will care for many of our employees’ children and family members,” said Scott Brown, president and chief executive officer at Sage Products. “We have been impressed with Centegra’s program, which helps parents understand the risks associated with concussions and cardiac issues. Centegra is teaching parents and coaches that effective and timely treatment is essential to keeping our teens safe.”

The goal of Centegra’s concussion screening is to prevent second-impact syndrome, which is a repeated concussion that occurs before the brain has healed from the initial traumatic brain injury. Second impact syndrome can result in brain swelling, permanent brain damage or even death.

Centegra’s concussion baseline screening is a two-part cognitive and balance test that determines a student’s cognitive function and balance before a concussion occurs. If the student sustains a concussion, the physician can determine if the student’s brain has fully healed by comparing the post-concussion test to the original concussion screening.

Sudden cardiac death is the result of an unexpected failure of proper heart function without trauma, usually during or immediately after exercise. When sudden cardiac death occurs, the athlete quickly collapses, loses consciousness and ultimately dies unless normal heart rhythm is restored using an automated external defibrillator (AED).

Centegra’s cardiac screening program is unique among other youth cardiac screening programs because clinical professionals perform the EKGs and echocardiograms. Centegra clinically manages testing, with the schools and parent volunteers performing administrative duties.

“Centegra Health System is so appreciative that Sage Products made this donation,” said Susan Milford, senior vice president of strategy and development at Centegra. “We are passionate about this program, and Sage’s support reflects our shared commitment to our community. By partnering with us to provide this program, Sage Products has guaranteed that thousands of area teens will receive these potentially life-saving screenings.”

For more information about Centegra Health System’s Youth Screenings Program, visit http://centegra.org/current-fundraising-campaigns/.