ROCKINGHAM CO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

School-Based Concussion Management

VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

TBI SUMMER TRAINING

JULY 19, 2017

REBECCA R. HILL-SHIFFLETT


The Simple Facts

  • Brain injury and concussion can happened to anyone, not just athletes
  • Schools are taking a more active role in the "return-to-learn" process for concussed students
  • A multi-disciplinary approach for recovery is the most effective

ROCKINGHAM CO PUBLIC SCHOOLS


RCPS Multi-Disciplinary Approach

  • Parent and Student
  • School Personnel
  • Physicians/Medical Personnel

The Beginning 2011-12

  • Shenandoah Valley Regional Program provided TBI Training December 6, 2011
  • RCPS participants included Nurses, Athletic Trainers, Coaches, Activities Director and Central Office
  • Division Goals
    • Expand awareness, education, and training by June 2012
    • Develop comprehensive division plan to pilot by June 2013

ROCKINGHAM CO PUBLIC SCHOOLS


Team Structure and Responsibilities

Central Office Leadership School-Based CMT Division Task Force
Participants
Director of Pupil Personnel Services
Director of Secondary Education
Director Physical Ed
RCPS TBI Liaison
Participants
School Nurses
Symptom Monitor (Nurse)
Academic Monitor
Athletic Trainers
PE Teachers
Student Study
Multidisciplinary team Chairpersons
Participants
Community Health Leaders
RCPS TBI Liaison
•Parents
•Teachers
•Athletic Trainers
•Sentara RMH
•Physicians
Responsibilities
Appoint TBI Task Force
Communicate with Principals
Oversee school based protocol
Responsibilities
Each team member has a specific role in monitoring the individual Return-to-Learn protocol based on student needs
Responsibilities
Participate in training June 19, 2012
Increase knowledge base
Develop RCPS Division Goals for TBI
Create a referral form
Plan training and education

ROCKINGHAM CO PUBLIC SCHOOLS


The Beginning...Division Task Force Training

AGENDA - June 2012

  • 9:00 Welcome and Introductions
  • 9:15-10:15 Michelle Witt, Director Crossroads to Brain Injury Recovery, Inc. Overview - Traumatic Brain Injury
  • 10:15-11:15 Implementing Accommodations in the School Setting - Sara Tonizzo, Partnership for People with Disabilities
  • 11:15- Noon Begin Brainstorming for RCPS Procedures - Sara Tonizzo
  • Noon-1:00 PM Lunch on your own
  • 1:00-3:00 Team Work Session - RCPS TBI Procedures

ROCKINGHAM CO PUBLIC SCHOOLS


Traumatic Brain Injury School-Based Response Process Initial DRAFT

Gate Keeper for Referrals: School Nurse

  • Complete TBI Report Form
  • Obtain consent to exchange information with physician
  • Email to teachers
  • Reporting Forms sent to teachers
  • Email to teachers
  • Reporting Forms sent to teachers
  • Assess

Outcomes

  • Referral is terminated
  • Assess
  • Referral to TBI Intervention Team (Student Assistant Program (SAP), ASSIST or Student Study Team)
  • Follow-up time line established
  • Access
  • Referral is terminated
  • Referral for 504 OR
  • Referral for evaluation for Special Education

ROCKINGHAM CO PUBLIC SCHOOLS


Goals for Implementation

Need/Goal Participants Resources Needed Projected Time Line Who
Establish a "Gate Keeper' at each school
School Based TBI Teams
School Nurse
Administrator
Nurse
Guidance Counselor
Student
Documentation
Consent to Exchange Information
Reporting Form
Contact List
Training
Begin Pilot Implementation for 2012-2013 after training
Begin Pilot Implementation for 2012-2013 after training
School Nurse
School Nurse and TBI Teams
Study/504/SAP
Athletic Trainers
Training Principals
School Nurses
CO Support August 9, 2012
August 14, 2012
CO Staff
RN's, Chuck Wenger
Student Study Chairs   August 17, 2012 CO Staff
Open to All Staff     November 6, 2012 Michelle Witt
Sara Tonizzo

ROCKINGHAM CO PUBLIC SCHOOLS


Accomplishments in 2012-13

  • TBI/Concussion Link posted on RCPS web site
  • Draft flow chart and forms are developed to document and monitor TBI/Concussions
  • Nurses Met
    • Discussed process
    • Tweaked forms
    • Added forms for communicating with teachers
    • All forms posted on our web site

ROCKINGHAM CO PUBLIC SCHOOLS


Sentara RMH Orthopedics and Sports Medicine and Rockingham County Public Schools

SENTARA

ROCKINGHAM CO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

RMH Medical Center


Sentara RMH Partnership

  • Dr. Tom Weber began working with RCPS Athletic trainers in April 2011
  • This partnership has added estimated $85,000 to the RCPS athletic program
  • Sentara RMH was awarded a $25,000 grant in 2012-2013 to support concussion diagn0sis and management in RCPS
  • Dr Weber oversees the scope of practice for RCPS athletic trainers and supervising RNs

Sentara RMH Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

  • Helps maintain computerized electronic medical records
  • ImPACT neurocognitive baseline testing purchased for all RCPS high schools and training provided to ATCs
  • On-Site coverage for home high school football games
  • Provides 24/7 physician on-call availability for consult on injured athletes ensured by Dr. Weber for consult with ATCs regarding injuries

Sentara RMH Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

  • Sentara RMH Orthopedics and Sports Medicine serves as a liaison to other RMH departments to facilitate care
  • Sports physicals are available
  • Continuing education programs for sports medicine
  • Conditioning and injury prevention program on-site to athletic teams prone to injury

Accomplishments in 2013-14

  • Expanded partnership with Sentara RHM Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
  • Sentara RMH funded training for BrainSTEPS Model - School-Based CMT

School-Based Concussion Management

  • RCPS program modeled after BrainSTEPS
    • Return to learn protocol
    • Athletes and non-athletes are monitored
  • Symptom Monitor (School Nurse)
    • Monitors symptoms
  • Academic Monitor
    • Monitors adjustments and academic performance
  • RCPS Protocol Flow Chart and Forms

School Nurse – Gatekeeper for Referrals

Nurse completes form CMT-1 Concussion Signs and Symptoms Checklist

  • Nurse calls parent and sends a copy of form CMT-1 home
  • If athlete, notifies Athletic Trainer

If student returns to school with symptoms or physician orders follow protocol

Student Comes to School with Symptoms or Physician Orders for Concussion Head Injury at School

  • Nurse completes CMT-2 Student Concussion Symptom Monitoring Tool
  • Nurse calls to inform the parent of CMT protocol and recommends student be seen by physician if they have not been seen
  • Nurse sends CMT-3 Teacher Notification of Student Concussion to teachers and Academic Monitor.
  • If student is an athlete, the Athletic Trainer is also notified.
  • Nurse monitors two times per week using CMT-2
  • Academic Monitor begins monitoring with CMT-4 Student Concussion Academic Monitoring Tool
  • If student is an athlete, information is sent to the Athletic Trainer
  • Parents are notified of progress

Week Three Check

  • Progress is noted, no symptoms: Appropriate return to learn and return to play
  • Symptoms Continue, No Progress:
    • Contact Parent
    • CMT makes referral to Student Study CMT -5 Recommendations to Address On-Going Symptoms
    • Interventions may include a referral to Dr. Tom Weber Concussion Management Flow Chart

Implementation Time Line

  • December 6, 2011: Shenandoah Valley Regional Program TBI Training
  • June 19, 2012: Division Task Force TBI Training
  • August 2012: Dissemination of pilot forms and flow chart
  • March 21, 2013: TBI Team presents at VDOE TBI Training
  • July 26, 2013: RCPS CO Staff met with RMH Sports Medicine- Concussion Clinic Staff
  • August 1, 2013: RCPS TBI Team presents at VDOE TBI Training
  • September 24, 2014: RCPS Memorandum of Agreement with RHM
  • October 4, 2013: Division Training on BrainSTEPS model
  • October 17, 2013: RCPS Supervising RNs met with Dr. Weber
  • November 14, 2013: RNs met with Dr. Weber, RMH Staff and RCPS Athletic Trainers
  • December 6, 2013: RNs met to revise flow chart and forms
  • January 16, 2014: School-Based CMT’s met to review flow chart and and forms
  • March 25, 2014: RNs met with Dr Tom Weber

Full Implementation 2014-15

  • All schools continue to implement School-Based CMT model.
  • Continued partnership with Sentara RMH for training, education and concussion management
  • Feedback and Evaluation of pilot
  • 2014-15 Focus
    • Middle School Back to School Night August 2014
    • Informational session for all school nurses August 2014
    • Informational sessions at “Your Day at School”

Program Continuation and Evaluation 2017-18

  • Summer session with Sentara RMH and RCPS leadership team
  • August training for Nurses and Academic Monitors
  • Quarterly Nurse Supervisors and Dr. Weber

Suggestions

Identify…

  • What staff do you already have in place?
  • What structures already exist to support return to learn?
  • Who are your “experts”
  • What supports exist in your community?
  • Use available resources….but make it your own

Helpful Resources

  • Brain Injury Association of Virginia
  • Centers for Disease Control
  • REAP
  • Brain 101- The Concussion Playbook (ORCAS)
  • BrainSTEPS
  • www.rockingham.k12/va/us

Questions?