The CAG was formed to address the growing and pressing needs of concussion injury patients, it is a unique partnership between patients/caregivers and the uOBMRI researchers/clinicians. Major challenges for concussion injury patients include timely access to care, predicting whether injury will lead to substantial deficits, and understanding of when activity can be resumed.
This group has come together to help drive change, to help other people navigate through a much clearer and an accessible system. Concussion injuries and brain injuries after accidents affect everyone, at any age and in an instance your entire life can change forever. Without the proper support, many people are left on their own trying to survive with little success at reintegrating. This group has come together to help change this.
CAG group main goals
“Eliminate the Wait”
By: Offering timely access to appropriate information and guidance for those with concussion injury. Information will be distributed using an interactive web portal that utilizes the symptoms of the patients and provides immediate appropriate information to patients, primary care physicians, and ER physicians. The portal will include an early triage capability (within days) that directs appropriate patients with urgent need immediately to the concussion injury clinics (adult and paediatric) in Ottawa. We will implement immediate triage assessments by an experienced nurse navigator, who will also provide active advice and information. Regular contact and updates will continue during the wait period to see the specialist.
“Predict who will suffer from concussion injury symptoms”
By: Refining the predictive algorithms based upon patient symptoms and tests of who are at risk for more debilitating symptoms.
“Determine when you should resume normal activity”
By:
- Developing sensitive tests beyond what is currently provided to inform patients/physicians if important deficits still exist.
- Reintegrating our patients; by focusing on the tools, support and individualized programs to improve the patient’s ability to reintegrate as quickly as possible.