UVA Concussion Protocol Expands to Serve All Students

The University of Virginia is democratizing its concussion care, ensuring that every student who suffers a head injury will receive the same elite treatment once reserved for its Division I student-athletes. This significant expansion is made possible by a new $300,000 grant from the Jefferson Trust.

Starting this fall, UVA’s Student Health and Wellness will launch the Jefferson Concussion Access for Recovery, Exercise and Support (CARES) program. This initiative will implement the advanced Sport as a Laboratory Assessment Model (SLAM), an interdisciplinary protocol that was co-developed by UVA Health providers and athletic trainers. The program aims to enhance the clinical care and support available to all students, helping them recover more quickly and return to their academic and daily lives with minimal disruption.

A Comprehensive Approach to Care

The Jefferson CARES program is a comprehensive system built to guide students from injury to full recovery. The initiative, led by Jake Resch, an associate professor of kinesiology and athletic trainer, will create a support system that includes:

• Easy Symptom Tracking: A new digital system will allow students to log their daily symptoms, helping clinicians identify those who may need more specialized care.
• Targeted Support: The system is designed to automatically trigger key elements of care, such as safe exercise regimens, notifications to faculty for academic accommodations, and referrals to specialists.
• Specialized Resources: Students will have access to the Department of Kinesiology’s concussion lab and the Fried Center for the Advancement of Potential, which offers a tailored exercise regimen to promote recovery.

As Dr. Meredith Hayden, chief medical officer of UVA Student Health and Wellness, notes, most concussions occur not from sports but from everyday activities like falls or scooter accidents. “That’s why [Student Health and Wellness] is here as the first stop after any non-emergency head injury,” she said. Early reporting and swift intervention, she adds, are crucial for a faster recovery.

The Vision of a Pioneer

The expansion of this program is a testament to the legacy of the late Jeffrey Barth, a UVA professor and pioneer in clinical neuropsychology who created the original SLAM model. The enhanced protocol was later digitized by alumna Cat Donahue. The new program ensures that the groundbreaking work, which began with collegiate football players, will now benefit the entire student body, providing an unprecedented level of care for all.