Guidelines for Evaluation and Education of Adult Patients with Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries in an Acute Care Hospital Setting

The purpose of this article is to provide practice guidelines that outline a systematic approach to be followed in an acute care setting with patients who have sustained a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). Most patients are seen briefly in an emergency department and then released, with little or no information concerning the sequelae of mild TBI. This article reviews the literature supporting the importance of early education of patients concerning the possible effects of mild TBI and proposes a specific protocol to be followed in providing patients with medical assessment, a brief cognitive screening evaluation, educational information, and follow-up treatment.