Concussions Ontario

Concussions Ontario

We work with many experts and partners, aiming to improve concussion care in Ontario.

Patients & Families Healthcare Professionals Service Providers



ConcussionsOntario.org is sponsored and led by the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation (ONF). We work with many experts and partners, aiming to improve concussion care in Ontario.



Concussion (also sometimes called mild traumatic brain injury) is the most common form of traumatic brain injury. A new study initiated by ONF (not yet published), found that there were 148,710 concussions diagnosed in Ontario in 2013. Most people will recover whether it takes one or several weeks, however 15-20% of people who sustain a concussion have longer, potentially difficult and prolonged symptoms that interfere with their functioning and daily lives.



This site is designed to provide information on the work we do in collaboration with our partners — using research to drive practice and policy. Whether you are a medical professional, service provider, patient, family member, or decision-maker, this site provides credible information on the state of concussion care in Ontario, as well as evidence-based management tools and resources.



Standards for High Quality Post-Concussion Services and Concussion Clinics

1

Individuals with suspected concussion should be assessed by a qualified practitioner able to make a diagnostic decision (i.e., physician, nurse practitioner, or neuropsychologist).

2

Post-concussion care and concussion clinics should have direct and ongoing access to a physician with experience in concussion management.

3

Individuals with concussion should have access to: (1) diagnostic assessment; (2) education, resources, and follow-up; and, (3) therapies and interventions once symptoms are deemed persistent.

4

Health care providers and concussion clinics should provide patients and family/caregiver(s) with information about concussion, trajectory of recovery, resources, health care provider experience, services offered, and referrals available.

5

Every patient diagnosed with concussion should receive follow-up (usually from their primary care provider) within 1-2 weeks.

6

A person treating patients for concussion symptoms should be a regulated health care professional, licensed by a regulatory body under the regulated health professions act.

7

Concussion clinics should offer an interdisciplinary team with at least three (3) different health care provider disciplines when providing post-concussion care.

8

Concussion clinics should be clear with patients about their ability to provide the full spectrum of care from initial management to longer term management of persistent symptoms (if required).

9

Concussion clinics should provide patients with comprehensive post-concussion care, including the following core functions and services: (1) diagnosis and medical treatment decisions; (2) physical treatment; (3) cognitive, function, and emotional support; (4) coordination of care; and, (5) education.

10

Concussion clinic teams should clearly define each other’s roles and professional scopes of practice.

11

Concussion clinics should follow practices and use treatments that are evidence-based and/or recommended by provincial, national, or international guidelines or consensus statements.

12

Primary care practitioners and concussion clinic teams should follow referral indicators to refer patients to appropriate specialists, services, and allied professionals.

13

Post-concussion care delivered through a network of providers rather than a clinic should have a clear care pathway that is convenient for and responsive to the patient, and offered collaboratively by qualified and experienced health professionals (including a physician).

14

Concussion clinics should have clear internal and external communication mechanisms to improve coordination of care.

15

A concussion clinic or network of providers should track access to service, use suggested reporting and common data elements, and collect patient-level clinical, demographic, and administrative data.