Components of the TRACS Program
I. Clinical Care
Vision: Covers spectrum of care and timeline of management in all settings, from all mechanisms, and all ages.
A. Concussion and mild TBI
Acute Care:
- ER: collaborative initiatives for acute detection and stabilization and initial management
- Outpatient Care: coordinated by a specialized triage / care coordination system coordinating care utilizing available resources
Affiliated Clinics:
- Neurology & Neurosurgery
- Family Medicine & Pediatrics
- Student Health Care Center
- Clinical Psychology (Neuropsychology)
- Orthopedic Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation
- Psychiatry
- Internal Medicine
Complications and Persistent Symptoms:
Better understand, recognize, and treat long-term complications of concussions to include:
- Cognitive impairment conditions such as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)
- Psychiatric problems
UF is uniquely positioned for opportunity to effectively explore these long-term complications:
- Unique synergy of aging resources
- Recent awarding designation as an NIH Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
B. Moderate-Severe TBI
Acute Management: ER
Hospital Based:
- Poised to evolve with opening of new UF Neuromedicine Hospital
- Coordination of care with Case Manager
- Interface with state of Florida Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury Program
- Trauma Surgery
- Neurosurgery
- Neuro ICU
- Neurophysiology
Inpatient Rehabilitation:
Poised to evolve with plans for new Joint Venture Rehabilitation Hospital (UF Health / Select)
Outpatient Rehabilitation: area most in need of further development
II. Research
Vision: Integrated preclinical and clinical investigations
A. Preclinical program
Area of focus to include:
- Pathophysiology and Mechanisms of injury and Long-term Complications
- Advance understanding of neural plasticity and recovery
B. Clinical Investigation Program
Areas of focus to include:
- Diagnostic techniques
- Technologies for detection
- Technologies to assess recovery
- Innovative treatments
- Target symptoms
- Target neural recovery
- Management strategies to include better guidance for –
- Return to work
- Return to Driving
- Return to learn for students at all educational levels
- Achieving maximum possible quality of life
- Prevention Strategies
- Primary – concussion prevention
- Secondary – lessen symptom burden and expedite recovery
- Tertiary – prevention of long term sequelae
III. Education and Outreach
Vision: Effective communication to all stakeholders
Patients – Accurate, timely, useful information presented in clearly understood formats
Families and Caregivers – Linkage to appropriate resources, empowering education to enable families to reach effective management
Providers – provide updated guidance on evidence- based best practices
- Provide effective education to next generation of practitioners
- Develop fellowships for advanced training
Community – increase community awareness of concussions, and coordinate effective prevention efforts. Coordinate efforts with appropriate state and national agencies and policy offices.