Telemedicine, Quality Initiative for Concussion Management

摘要

Concussion, a form of traumatic brain injury, is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. For those who have sustained a concussion, limited resources to screen and assess result in a gap in quality care, further increasing the risk of disability or death. To decrease the delay in evaluating concussions, telemedicine was implemented with a potential pool of 5,000 athletes, 1 family nurse practitioner, and 26 athletic trainers in western Washington. A telemedicine consultation provided significant benefits, including eliminating travel for the athlete and their families, early initiation of care, and collaborative care regardless of geographic location. (C) 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.