Promoting Safety Through Community Outreach

Multidisciplinary Concussion Care

Within NSU’s Sports Medicine Clinic is a multidisciplinary team of dedicated concussion care specialists including physicians, a neuropsychologist, and a physical therapist. Each member of the concussion care team has completed specific concussion care training through ImPACT Applications and holds either the Credentialed ImPACT Consultant (CIC) or ImPACT Trained Physical Therapist (ITPT) credential. The concussion care team works closely with each other but also with the broader sports medicine clinic whose members consist of primary and specialty care physicians, psychologists, vestibular and vision rehab professionals, nutritionists, and strength and conditioning coaches. Having this multidisciplinary team of professionals in-house allows them to provide full-service concussion care to patients.

ImPACT Has Made Neurocognitive Testing More Accessible

In the past, neurocognitive testing could only be done using paper and pencil assessments that took hours to administer and extensive training to interpret. ImPACT has made neurocognitive testing and concussion care more approachable because of its ease of administration and training available for how to use it as part of the concussion evaluation. It has also helped from a clinical standpoint by significantly reducing the time it takes to administer a neurocognitive test.

"As a neuropsychologist, ImPACT is a great addition to my toolbox, as it quickly and efficiently provides test results for areas of the brain most affected by concussions. It provides me with a solid base for understanding the patient's cognitive functioning after an injury." - Dr. Lashley

Baseline Testing for the Whole County

The concussion care team members at NSU are strong proponents of neurocognitive baseline testing because it gives them an additional data point and provides a specific target for recovery.

“Baseline testing is absolutely necessary. It gives us a means to compare an individual to their own ‘norm’. Without it, you’re missing a big chunk of the whole picture.” - Dr. Joseph

That’s why they provide free ImPACT baseline testing to the entire public school system in Broward county, which is the 6th largest county in the nation, totaling approximately 20,000 student athletes. In addition to promoting safety and concussion care throughout the community, this program has also contributed to patient acquisition by developing relationships with local athletic trainers, athletes, and parents.

"Not every individual is the same when it comes to ‘normal’ cognition. Having a baseline test allows the treatment team to compare an individual to themselves and make better treatment decisions." - Dr. Posey