THE QED HIA POSITION
Every governing body has an HIA protocol.
None of them have measurement.
World Rugby, the NFL, the GAA, and every other governing body have invested significantly in Head Injury Assessment protocols. QED HIA respects that investment. We do not ask organisations to discard what they have built. We ask one question: what if your protocol could measure, not just observe?
"In concussion, observation is not a measurement, nor is it a treatment."
THE DIFFERENCE
Current HIA Protocol vs. QED-Enhanced Protocol
CURRENT HIA PROTOCOL
Observation only — no physiological measurement capability
QED-ENHANCED PROTOCOL
Your existing protocol + QED measurement, intervention and data
PROTOCOL ARCHITECTURE
The QED HIA Integration Layer
QED HIA sits as an intelligence layer above the existing protocol — enhancing every step without replacing any.
HOW IT WORKS
Six Steps. One Seamless Integration.
Existing HIA Protocol Runs as Normal
QED HIA does not replace your current HIA process. The existing World Rugby, NFL, or governing body protocol continues exactly as mandated. Medical staff follow their current checklist without disruption.
QED Neuro Benchmark Activates
Pre-game, each player completes a 3-minute QED Neuro Benchmark — establishing their personal cognitive and physiological baseline. This data sits alongside the existing HIA record.
Impact Event Triggers QED Assessment
When an incident occurs, QED HIA runs simultaneously with the existing HIA protocol. The QED Console delivers real-time neurological data to the pitch-side medical officer within 90 seconds.
Measured Decision — Not Guessed
The medical officer now has objective data to support their HIA decision. QED does not override clinical judgment — it informs it with measurement. The existing protocol is enhanced, not replaced.
Pitch-Side Intervention if Required
If the player is removed, QED's immediate microcurrent intervention begins. This is the critical upgrade — existing HIA protocols have no intervention capability. QED adds active treatment to the protocol.
Measured Return-to-Play Clearance
Return-to-play is validated against the player's personal baseline, not a generic population average. The Digital Brain Passport records every step, providing legal and governance protection for clubs and unions.
GOVERNING BODY COMPATIBILITY
Built to Work With Every Protocol
| SPORT | EXISTING PROTOCOL | QED ADDITION | STATUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rugby Union | World Rugby HIA Protocol | Neuro Benchmark + Pitch-Side Microcurrent + Digital Brain Passport | Pilot Ready |
| American Football | NFL Concussion Protocol | Real-Time Neurological Data + Measured Return-to-Play | Pilot Ready |
| Boxing & MMA | State Athletic Commission Medical | Pre-Fight Neuro Baseline + Post-Fight Brain Mapping | In Development |
| Gaelic Games | GAA Concussion Guidelines | Club-Level Digital Passport + Grassroots Baseline | Pilot Ready |
| Ice Hockey | NHL/IIHF Concussion Protocol | Bench-Side Assessment + Measured Clearance | In Development |
| Military | Defence Medical Trauma Protocol | Blast TBI Assessment + Veteran Longitudinal Record | Active |
WHY QED HIA
Four Reasons Medical Officers Choose QED
We Work With Your Protocol
QED HIA is designed to integrate seamlessly with every existing governing body HIA framework. We do not ask medical officers to abandon what they know. We give them more.
We Add Measurement to Observation
Current protocols observe. QED measures. The addition of objective neurological data transforms a subjective checklist into an evidence-based clinical decision.
We Add Intervention to Assessment
No existing HIA protocol includes pitch-side intervention. QED's microcurrent therapy — informed by 40 years of clinical excellence — is the first intervention capability ever built into a contact sport HIA framework.
We Create the Evidence Trail
Every QED assessment creates a timestamped, objective data record. For clubs, unions, and governing bodies, this is governance protection. For players, it is their lifelong health record.
BOOK A DEMO
See QED HIA in action. Ken Little will walk your medical team through a live integration demonstration — showing exactly how QED layers onto your existing HIA protocol.
Ready to Upgrade Your Protocol?
Contact Ken Little to discuss how QED HIA integrates with your existing medical framework — no disruption, no replacement, just better outcomes.
Ken Little — COO, QED HIA | ABTGlobal · [email protected] · +27 81 309 7445