Family Handbook 2019-20

Havergal’s Concussion Protocol Junior School

The Junior School Concussion Protocol is managed by the Learning Support Team, who work with the family to support the student. ​ Junior School Concussion Protocol Flowchart

Upper School One of the first key people notified in the Upper School is the School Nurse. She is tasked with reaching out to parents and (in cases that result from athletic-related injuries) notifying the David L. MacIntosh Sports Medicine Clinic at the University of Toronto. Parents follow up by making an appointment for their daughter to be seen by a physician at the clinic who can confirm the diagnosis and—as importantly—assesses the patient for the severity of the concussion. A Return to Learn (RTL) plan is initiated by the doctor that documents what the patient can and cannot do in three domains: cognitive, sensory and physical. Furthermore, the RTL plan makes clear to what degree each domain has been affected by the injury on a scale from 1-6. A patient has fully recovered from a concussion when she has obtained a 6 in each category. The RTL plan launches a circle of care for the student, which includes her Guidance Counsellor in the Upper School (her go-to person during her recovery), her teachers, the School Nurse and—in some cases—the School Physician. At its core, the physician-directed RTL plan informs how our concussed students are taught and assessed. Teachers understand that every student recovers from a concussion at different rates and in different ways. Havergal’s concussion protocol has students being reassessed on a regular basis by McIntosh Clinic physicians, who amend the RTL plan accordingly. This iterative process continues until the student is Stage Six, fully-recovered. For students not injured through sports-related injuries, the McIntosh Clinic has authorized the School Nurse to provide your family doctor with the RTL plan described above. As well, some Havergal students will be referred to Women’s College Hospital, which is affiliated with the University of Toronto.

The concussion protocol flowchart of action and responsibilities can be found at: Upper School Concussion Protocol Flowchart ​ .

Last Edited: August 20, 2019 Havergal College Family Handbook 2019–20

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