Approximately 640,000 children 14 years and younger with suspected TBI very often go to emergency departments annually. In addition, urgent care centers and primary care physicians evaluate and manage patients with mild Traumatic Brain Injuries (mTBI). More than 80 percent of TBI cases are classified as mTBI.
Emergency medicine researchers and clinical providers at Emory University School of Medicine https://www.med.emory.edu are evaluating the use of a toolkit to help improve recovery in children experiencing mTBI.
The four year research project is being funded by a $550,000 grant from the CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control https://www.cdc.gov/injury/index.html. Researchers will engage patients, caregivers, clinical providers, and schools to study and refine an Emory-developed TBI Evaluation and Management (TEaM) Toolkit to improve the diagnosis, management, and treatment of mTBI. When the project is completed, the Emory team plans to implement their toolkit in health systems in the U.S.
The primary aim of the study is to show that evidence-based clinical practice and education for patients, caregivers, clinical providers, and schools is feasible and will promote recovery when children and adolescents after coming to ED departments, urgent care facilities, and primary care practices are followed throughout the treatment continuum.
The TEaM Toolkit relies on the EMR system and a targeted training program to improve screening and management throughout diagnosis and treatment. Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta https://www.choa.org is going to work with Emory’s School of Medicine’s Department of Emergency Medicine to refine and implement the TEaM toolkit by pilot testing an EMR screening and notification system.
The pilot test will include implementing clinical training modules and personalizing patient discharge instructions. The pilot will also include delivering post mTBI management with input and coordination from school programs plus disseminate educational materials across organizational settings.
According to David Wright MD, Interim Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Emory and PI of the grant, “Overall, the research will include educating and adopting best practices by patients, parents, clinical providers, and schools to improve managing the diagnosis and the follow-up care to improve recovery.”