Concussion Specialist in New York City

Welcome to NYSMI – A CONCUSSION SPECIALIST IN NEW YORK CITY

Meet our CONCUSSION SPECIALIST IN NEW YORK CITY:
MARIE SERINA, FNP-BC
SPECIALIZING IN CONCUSSION CARE

WHAT IS A CONCUSSION?

A concussion is an injury to the brain caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that can change the way the brain normally functions. Read on to learn how our concussion specialist in New York City can help you.

Most concussions occur during practice or games in any sport, as well as from a fall or a blow to the body that causes the head and brain to move quickly back and forth within the skull. Most concussions do not result in a loss of consciousness, and most people recover within a few days to weeks.

However, concussions are complex injuries that can have both short- and long-term effects that can impair many aspects of a person’s health – physical, neurological, cognitive, and psychological.

Each case of a suspected or known concussion should be evaluated by an experienced multidisciplinary team to effectively diagnose, treat, and manage the injury, and advise on when it is safe to return to playing or learning.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF A CONCUSSION?

You can’t see a concussion. Signs and symptoms of concussion can show up right after an injury, or may not appear or be noticed until hours or days after the injury.

It is important to watch for changes in how your child is acting or feeling, if symptoms are getting worse, or if he or she just “doesn’t feel right.” If your child or teen reports one or more of the symptoms of concussion listed below, or if you notice the symptoms yourself, seek the advice of a healthcare provider knowledgeable in concussion management.

Children and teens are among those at greatest risk for concussion.

DIAGNOSTIC AIDE WITH EYEBOX

Head injuries are a major source of concern since the presence and severity of a head injury may not be readily assessable, which is why the FDA approval of EyeBOX is a major breakthrough in the medical field. Available at our Westchester location, EyeBOX is revolutionizing concussion care.

More information about EyeBOX involves:

The first FDA approved, a non-invasive, baseline-free tool to aid in the diagnosis of concussions.
EyeBOX uses eye-tracking technology to provide objective information to aid in the assessment of patients with a suspected concussion.
Is a simple, four-minute test.

SERVICES Offered By Our Concussion Specialist in New York City

NYSMI | Concussion Care is a Credentialed ImPACT® Consultant, offering both baseline and follow-up ImPACT® (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing); the most widely used and most scientifically validated computerized concussion evaluation system.

CONCUSSION CARE SERVICES

Baseline neurocognitive assessments of individuals and athletes using ImPACT® and other recognized tests. Coordinating pre-season screening of individual athletes and teams.
Balance/vestibular testing and rehabilitation therapy.
Comprehensive post-injury physical and neurocognitive assessment, including post-injury ImPACT® testing and appropriate subspecialty referrals as needed.
Multi-disciplinary team to interface with families, schools, and athletic departments regarding accommodations needed during recovery.
Educational and training workshops for parents, coaches, trainers, students, athletes, and school nurses.

At NYSMI | Concussion Care, we take a complete and individualized approach to patient care and thoroughly evaluate and treat patients after their injury to appropriately facilitate a return to sports, work and their daily routine.

Where Is Our CONCUSSION SPECIALIST IN NEW YORK CITY Located?

NEW YORK

Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital
210 East 64th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10021
Tel: 212-861-2300 – Fax: 914-920-2085

New York Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 7:30 am – 5:00 pm
Late hours by special appointment only.

NOTE: Hours may change due to surgical schedule. We do our best to communicate these changes and accommodate your needs. We encourage our patients to call our offices with any issues or requests. Emails should be used for informational purposes; we will be glad to review and respond during regular office hours.

WHITE PLAINS – WESTCHESTER

222 Westchester Avenue, Suite 307/308, White Plains, NY 10604
Tel: 914-290-4370 – Fax: 914-920-2085

White Plains Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 7:30 am – 5:00 pm
Late hours by special appointment only.

SATURDAY WALK-IN URGENT CARE HOURS NOW AVAILABLE AT OUR WHITE PLAINS OFFICE

NOTE: Hours may change due to surgical schedule. We do our best to communicate these changes and accommodate your needs.

We encourage our patients to call our offices with any issues or requests. Emails should be used for informational purposes; we will be glad to review and respond during regular office hours.

FROM THE WEST Take Route 287 East to Exit 8E, Westchester Ave. Follow Westchester Ave. (East) to the William Butcher Bridge overpass. Make a left over the bridge and take the next left onto Westchester Ave. (Westbound). Take the second right off Westchester Ave. at the Citibank.

FROM THE EAST Take Route 95 to Route 287 (West). Take Exit 9 NS off Route 287 to Westchester Ave. (Westbound). If driving via the Merritt or Hutchinson River Parkways, exit directly to Westchester Ave. (Westbound). Continue on Westchester Ave. Pass through the light at the William Butcher Bridge overpass and continue straight on Westchester Ave. taking the 2nd right at the Citibank.

#222 is the large building in the back of the office park. We’re located in Suite 307/308 on the 3nd floor (parking and entrance at the back of building).

CONCUSSION PATIENT RESOURCES

Insurance

All co-payments are due at the time of the visit. We accept VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, cash and checks.

We participate with many insurance plans. Our experienced staff will gladly contact your insurance company prior to your appointment to verify your health insurance benefits and discuss your coverage with you.

Aly Cola, our practice administrator, will help you to navigate the complicated health insurance environment and answer all your concerns prior to beginning treatment. With her extensive knowledge of the changing insurance environment, she will gladly help with all of your insurance concerns.

At your first visit we ask that you arrive 15 minutes early in order to complete some important documents.

[carousel-horizontal-posts-content-slider-pro id=’1017′]

HOW DO I CHECK FOR A CONCUSSION?

A concussion is one of the most common types of brain traumas that can occur for most patients. In a study conducted by the CDC, an estimated 3.8 million people in the United States reported having a concussion due to sports or recreational activities. This number is a true depiction of how common it is for concussions to occur, especially in those between the ages of 5 and 19. You may be wondering, why does it occur in younger individuals rather than older ones? Well, it’s been proven that various contact sports have a direct correlation to an increased chance of getting a concussion. It’s critical that if you suspect you have a concussion, you get treated immediately. Detection can often be the hardest aspect of dealing with a concussion. Some patients may even be aware that they’ve suffered this brain injury. If you or someone you know has a suspected concussion and is in need of treatment or a definitive diagnosis, schedule an appointment with our staff at New York Sports Medicine Institute. Our concussion specialist in New York City can help to detect and effectively treat your concussion. Our multidisciplinary team of professionals are well experienced in the area of concussion treatment and can provide you with the highest level of expertise on the assessment and treatment of your brain injury. First, it’s imperative that you educate yourself on how you can identify a concussion.

What is a Concussion?

The brain is surrounded by cerebrospinal fluid to provide a cushion-like layer. During the event of a concussion, the brain is forced up against the inner walls of the skull. As a result, bleeding in or around the brain may occur. This can cause both short and long term side effects, which can affect your everyday function.

The Common Causes

As previously stated, contact sports is one of the most common causes of a concussion. The types of sports that are closely related to increased concussion injuries include:

Football.
Men’s and women’s soccer.
Men’s and women’s basketball.
Wrestling.
Rugby.
Boxing.
Hockey.

Other causes can consist of harsh acceleration or de-acceleration of the head. This can occur during a motor vehicle accident, being shaken vigorously, falling or even during some recreational activities. If you have experienced or performed any of the above-listed activities, it’s important to keep a keen eye on the signs and symptoms of a concussion. Upon detection of these symptoms, our concussion specialist in New York City can assist your treatment. This can allow you to detect your injury early on and get the proper treatment necessary for recovery.

The Signs and Symptoms

There are many symptoms that can occur after a concussion injury takes place. Some of the most prevalent signs of a concussion consist of:

Feeling of pressure in the head.
Sustaining headaches.
Confusion or fogginess.
Feeling of dizziness or “seeing stars.”
Nausea.
Vomiting.
Temporary loss of consciousness.
Ringing in the ears.
Extreme fatigue.
Sensitivity to noise and light.

Being that this type of brain injury occurs more often in younger individuals, determining whether toddlers have a concussion or not can also be a difficult task. Looking out for these particular signs and symptoms in children can be helpful

Excessive crying.
Having a dazed appearance.
Crankiness and irritability.
Lack of interest in usual activities and favorite toys.
Loss of balance when walking or standing.
Increased tiredness.

Assessment and Treatment Options

At New York Sports Medicine Institute, we utilize Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing, or ImPACT, to assess our patients with possible concussions. This is one of the most widely used and scientifically validated concussion evaluation tests available. In addition to our thorough ImPACT assessment, we utilize the advanced technology of EyeBOX. This is a non-invasive medical device used to help accurately diagnose a patient’s concussion and is available in Westchester County and New York City. This form of testing can help to accurately depict the presence of a concussion and it’s level of severity. We not only offer baseline assessments utilizing the EyeBOX but also follow up ImPACT testing as well to ensure that the treatment plan instilled is being executed to its fullest potential. At NYSMI, our concussion specialist in New York City provides services such as:

Pre-season screening of individual athletes and teams.
Baseline neurocognitive/ImPACT assessments of individuals and athletes.
Balance/vestibular testing and rehabilitation therapy.
Comprehensive post-injury neurocognitive/ImPACT assessments.
Educational workshops for coaches, athletes, parents, students, and school nurses.

Treatments may vary depending on the severity of your concussion. Rest is one of the most important treatment methods when it comes to recovering from a concussion. It’s recommended that you not only allow your brain time to physically heal but mentally as well. Resting may mean taking time off from playing sports, not attending full days of school or work, or not performing everyday activities that cause physical exertion. After your doctor determines the degree of your concussion injury, he will recommend the best treatment plan for you.