CONNECT Program

In partnership with leaders from Ongomiizwin Health Services, First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Jordan’s Principle, Government of Nunavut, and MBTelehealth, the Pan Am Clinic has developed a pediatric concussion telemedicine to improve access to specialized care for youth with concussion and traumatic brain injury. 

Physicians, nurse practitioners and nurses working in communities throughout Manitoba and the Kivalliq region of Nunavut may refer pediatric concussion patients (<20 years age) to the Pan Am Clinic CONNECT program for in-person videoconferencing. 

Because of the limitations of performing a complete physical examination via video-conferencing it is important that all patients undergo a complete medical assessment and neurological examination to rule out any clinical evidence of a more severe head injury or cervical spine injury prior to referral.  If a structural cervical spine injury is suspected, diagnostic imaging should be completed prior to referral, if available.  The results of any diagnostic tests should also be faxed along with the referral form. 

A referral to the CONNECT program can be made using the CONNECT Referral Form.  It is important that all referrals include up to date contact information for the patient (parent/guardian) and include results of any diagnostic tests.  It is also important to indicate whether translation services will be required to conduct the assessment. 

All patient referrals will be reviewed by the neurosurgeon to determine eligibility of conducting the initial assessment via video-conferencing.  If eligible, the administrative assistant at the Pan Am Concussion Program will schedule video-conferencing appointments at the nearest telemedicine site.  Once the appointment is confirmed, the administrative assistant at the Pan Am Concussion Program will contact the patient to notify them of the appointment date/time.  If initial assessment cannot be safely performed using in-person videoconferencing, an in-person assessment at the concussion program will be arranged. 

Patients who are referred to the CONNECT program and are not deemed to be eligible for videoconferencing will be contacted by the administrative assistant at the Pan Am Concussion Program to arrange an in-person consultation as soon as possible. 

Consultation response letters will be sent to the referring healthcare provider and the healthcare centre at which the telemedicine appointment is completed. 

All patients referred to the CONNECT program will be followed to clinical recovery. 

Note: This program is not to be used for children and adolescents with suspected acute traumatic brain and spine injuries that require emergency medical assessment.  It is also not to be used for general neurosurgery consultations.