Get The Idea | Get Your Head In The Game

What is GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME?

GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME is a MOVEMENT created to (1) bring the national spotlight to brain tumors and educate the public and medical professionals about the facts, symptoms and proper diagnosis techniques; (2) to help to drive down long-term health-related costs related to the disease; and (3) to bring more people to the fight against this terrible disease.

(1) GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME has two components both aimed at promoting early diagnosis for brain tumor patients and, in turn, increase their odds for survival and a better quality of life.

A. The first part of this is an awareness campaign for the general public. Piloted in New Castle County, Delaware in the Fall of 2008, the campaign was extremely well-received and is now scheduled to expand statewide in Delaware and in Philadelphia and Baltimore in 2009/2010 with plans to go national after that. » Join the Movement

B. The second part of this is an educational training program for primary care physicians, nurses and pediatricians. Piloting as a Continuing Medical Education (CME) program for school nurses in Delaware in 2008, plans are underway to develop an online version of the program and to test it with doctors and nurses in the Mid-Atlantic Region in 2009/2010.

(2) GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME also works to overcome the financial impacts of delayed diagnosis, including more complex surgical procedures, longer hospital stays, advance rehabilitation needs and a greater need for at-home nursing care. Also, the cost of the diagnosis itself is generally much higher when it is delayed given the increased number of trips to the doctor and the multiple prescriptions that patients often have to endure before they find out what is causing their symptoms.

(3) GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME is a platform for the entire community – patients, families, physicians, foundations, organizations – to get involved in raising awareness for the fight against brain tumors. As more foundations, associations, survivors, and supporters align with the Movement, the collective voice insisting on national attention, funding, and research will be heard more and more loudly. The main mechanism here are branded events, including an annual brain tumor awareness walk.
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The GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME Movement is the primary mission of the Kelly Heinz-Grundner Brain Tumor Foundation, founded in 2005 to raise awareness of brain tumors. Founded by Chris Grundner as a tribute to his wife, who died of a grade-four malignant brain tumor in Fall 2004 at the age of 31, it is the Foundation’s goal to educate the public and medical community about the symptoms of brain tumors, resulting in earlier diagnosis for those who get the disease. Earlier diagnosis will give brain tumor patients a better chance of beating the disease. Kelly Heinz-Grundner went undiagnosed for so long that her treatment options were greatly diminished – a situation that is far from unique.
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