The Potential of Telemedicine to Improve Pediatric Concussion Care in Rural and Remote Communities in Canada

Overview

Journal Front Neurol

Specialty Neurology

Date 2019 Aug 21

PMID 31428043

Citations 16

Authors

Michael J Ellis

Kelly Russell

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Concussion is a form of mild traumatic brain injury that affects thousands of Canadian children and adolescents annually. Despite national efforts to harmonize the recognition and management of pediatric concussion in Canada, timely access to primary and specialized care following this injury remains a challenge for many patients especially those who live in rural and remote communities. To address similar challenges facing patients with stroke and other neurological disorders, physicians have begun to leverage advances in telemedicine to improve the delivery of specialized neurological care to those living in medically underserved regions. Preliminary studies suggest that telemedicine may be a safe and cost-effective approach to assist in the medical care of select patients with acute concussion and persistent post-concussion symptoms. Here we provide an overview of telemedicine, teleneurology, the principles of concussion assessment and management, as well as the current state of concussion care in Canada. Utilizing preliminary evidence from studies of telemedicine in concussion and experience from comprehensive systems of care for stroke, we outline steps that must be taken to evaluate the potential of telemedicine-based concussion networks to improve the care of pediatric concussion patients living in underserved rural and remote communities in Canada.

Citing Articles

Challenges and effectiveness of remote neurological follow-up of children with concussion following TBI using telemedicine.

Demirtakan T, Isik S, Usta T, Edizer A, Dogan S Ir J Med Sci. 2025; .

PMID: 39836317 DOI: 10.1007/s11845-024-03862-8.

Barriers and Facilitators Associated With Remote Concussion Physical Assessments From the Perspectives of Clinicians and People Living With Workplace Concussions: Focus Group Study.

Barnes K, Sveistrup H, Karimijashni M, Bayley M, Egan M, Bilodeau M J Med Internet Res. 2024; 26:e56158.

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Acceptability, usability, and credibility of a mindfulness-based digital therapeutic for pediatric concussion: A mixed-method study.

Sicard V, OKane K, Brown O, Butterfield L, Kardish R, Choi E Digit Health. 2024; 10:20552076241248296.

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Development of Therapeutic Alliance and Social Presence in a Digital Intervention for Pediatric Concussion: Qualitative Exploratory Study.

OKane K, Otamendi T, Silverberg N, Choi E, Sicard V, Zemek R JMIR Form Res. 2024; 8:e49133.

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Update on Pediatric Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Rural and Underserved Regions: A Global Perspective.

Yue J, Krishnan N, Andrews J, Semonche A, Deng H, Aabedi A J Clin Med. 2023; 12(9).

PMID: 37176749 PMC: 10179657. DOI: 10.3390/jcm12093309.

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