Preliminary clinical algorithm to optimise remote delivery of paediatric concussion care in Canada’s North

• Published in: International Journal of Circumpolar Health
• Main Authors: Michael J. Ellis, Ivar Mendez, Kelly Russell
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2020
• Subjects: concussion; paediatric; telemedicine; remote care; healthcare service accessibility; northern canada; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic; Canada; Circumpolar Health; International Journal of Circumpolar Health
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1080/22423982.2020.1832390; https://doaj.org/article/f0fb04811d11497cb2ed3cc9b963ebcd

Concussion is a form of traumatic brain injury that affects thousands of children and adolescents across Canada annually. With timely access to comprehensive medical care, the majority of patients with acute concussion will recover within 1–4 weeks. Those who develop persistent post-concussion symptoms often benefit from early recognition and referral to multi-disciplinary concussion clinics that have the personnel and resources to meet their complex needs. Youth who live in remote and isolated communities within Canada’s North, a significant proportion of whom are Indigenous, face unique barriers and obstacles to accessing primary and specialised concussion care. Although telemedicine has recently emerged as a tool that can help address these gaps in care, there are presently no clinical guidelines or tools available to assist multi-disciplinary concussion clinics in providing remote concussion care to these medically underserved patients. Here we incorporate literature from a scoping review and our early institutional experience to present an evidence-informed preliminary clinical algorithm and resources to help guide and optimise remote paediatric concussion care delivery in Canada’s North. We also discuss how innovative technologies and partnerships can be leveraged to enhance the delivery of safe, equitable, cost-effective and culturally appropriate care to these communities.