New guideline standardizes outpatient care for adults recovering from traumatic brain injury

Special Report

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects millions of Americans each year and can result in long-lasting symptoms. Previously, outpatient TBI care lacked standardized guidance that could not apply uniformly to adults with TBI who could care for themselves after hospital discharge or who did not require hospital admission. The National Academies’ 2022 report on TBI identified this gap and called for coordinated follow-up care, leading to the formation of the Action Collaborative on TBI Care. The collaborative’s Clinical Practice Guideline Working Group synthesized and adapted recommendations from 18 existing evidence-based guidelines using a rigorous consensus process. The new guideline outlines evidence-based recommendations on 11 high-priority topics to guide outpatient care for adults with TBI in the first six months after injury. Topics include assessment, education, referrals, and early treatment. Considerations for older adults, survivors of intimate partner violence, athletes, and military service members are also provided.

Action Collaborative on Traumatic Brain Injury Care: Adapted Clinical Practice Guideline

Noah D. Silverberg, PhD, et al

University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Early Access Link (available now but temporary)