Concussion The complex issue of providing adequate care and preventative testing to a population that is increasingly unable to afford the rising expenses associated with such care remains a substantial problem in the United States, and directly impacts care provided for cases of head traumas in rural areas. The Canadian CT Head Rule (CCHR) and the New Orleans Criteria (NOC) are two clinical decision making methods for determining when the expense of a CT scan is warranted following a head trauma, though indications for the use of either testing procedure differ. Despite widespread and successful use elsewhere, the CCHR is not widely used in the United States and is especially under-utilized in rural areas, leading to rising expenses and the mistreatment of traumatic head injuries. Equipment shortages and other facility limitations in rural hospitals and clinics further complicates treatment for head injuries, and sheer geographic...

The CCHR is a more effective tool for anticipating a need for neurosurgical mediation, but both tests are equally effective in discerning brain injury and in general sensitivity to the diagnosis of head trauma severity. The use of either test would significantly reduce the rate of image testing in head trauma patients without damaging the overall efficacy of treatment, leading to a more careful and medically indicated use of imaging procedures and a reduction of healthcare costs to patients, insurers, and facilities alike. The sensitivity and efficacy of…