South Shore Hospital’s
Youth Health Connection

HeadSmart™: A Healthy Transition After Concussion

HeadSmart™ is a recovery protocol developed by physicians and school nurses to facilitate a student’s healthy return to school and sports following a concussion. The protocol is designed to engage students — as well as their families, friends, health care providers, teachers and coaches — in the recovery process.

HeadSmart outlines four color-coded stages of recovery that students experience after a concussion. The four stages help to create a common language and understanding among students, family members, friends, school and health professionals throughout the recuperation process.

The HeadSmart Handbook is an easy-to-use guide for middle, high school and college age students who have experienced a concussion. It is recommended that students review the handbook with family members, teachers, coaches and school health professionals.

Handbook users will find:

• Information about concussions

• Descriptions of the four color-coded stages of recovery

• Resources, programs and additional readings for students, families and teachers

The Handbook also includes a helpful tool called the Recovery Action Plan that can serve as a valuable checkpoint through each stage of recovery.

HeadSmart is the outcome of a unique collaboration among Scituate Pediatrics, Scituate High School and three South Shore Hospital programs: Sports Concussion Clinic, Youth Health Connection, and Reading Partnership.

Protocol contributors include three members of South Shore Hospital’s medical
staff — David Morin, MD of Scituate Pediatrics; Janet Kent, MD, medical director/Sports Concussion Clinic; and Michael McManus, MD, executive director of pediatric medicine — and school nurse leaders from Braintree, Canton, Framingham, Quincy, Scituate Walpole and Weymouth.

Handbook reviewers include Barbara J. Green, PhD, medical director/South Shore Hospital Youth Health Connection; Marge Rossi, RN, BSN, MEd, school nurse leader/Scituate Public Schools; Kimberly Noble, RN, MBA, coordinator/South Shore Hospital Youth Health Connection; Jean Ciborowski-Fahey, PhD, coordinator/ South Shore Hospital Reading Partnership, and Caitlin Little, intern/South Shore Hospital Youth Health Connection.

Reprints of the HeadSmart Concussion Management handbook are permitted. Organizations may also link to — or post— the handbook on their websites. Download here

 

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