Concussion Service

Your concussion treatment: ACC’s Concussion Service

If you have recently been diagnosed with a concussion and your symptoms have persisted for more than a few weeks, your GP might refer you to ACC’s concussion service.

The concussion service is a multidisciplinary team of experts to help patients experiencing ongoing symptoms from their concussion, also known as a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Habit Health holds this contract, which means we can provide this service for patients experiencing a delayed concussion recovery. Your concussion team may include:

• Occupational therapist
• Speech-Language Therapists
• Physiotherapists with vestibular training
• Psychologists
• Neuropsychologists
• Medical specialists experienced with brain injuries.

You may not need to see all the experts listed above, but only a few of them. This depends on the symptoms you are experiencing and other lifestyle factors.

If you need support on your journey back to work, we will also work with your employer to ensure a smooth transition.

Criteria to be referred to the concussion service:

For ACC to fund a referral to Habit Health’s concussion service, you must meet the following requirements:

• Had an injury in the last 12 months
• Been diagnosed with a mild to moderate brain injury or with post-concussion syndrome; and
• Have persisting concussion symptoms that requires investigation and significantly impacts your daily life, including:
  • mood changes
  • difficulty concentrating
  • memory problems
  • blurred vision
  • balance issues
  • nausea
  • fatigue
  • headaches
  • muscular aches; AND
• Experience other risk factors such as;
  • inability to work or attend school for more than a week
  • work in a high functioning job such as a pilot, engineer, medical practitioner, lawyer
  • experienced a second or subsequent (mTBI) within six months
  • required to operate heavy machinery or drive for your work
  • experience a mental health disorder
  • currently a secondary or tertiary student.

How to be referred

If you have recently experienced a concussion and are concerned about your signs and symptoms, visit your GP right away, don’t delay. If your concussion symptoms last longer than a few weeks and you meet the criteria listed above, your GP will speak to you about the referral process for the Concussion Service.

For more information about the ACC concussion service, talk with your primary healthcare provider.