Category Archives: Brain Injury Treatment

Hayley Wickenheiser once won multiple medals in Olympic and world championship competition for the Canadian national hockey team. Recently, she joined another high-profile team: the professional advisory board of Highmark Interactive, a medical technology company seeking to change how athletes manage concussions and other brain injuries. Wickenheiser is one of three former athletes to form the team that will advise Highmark Interactive as it develops a video game that will revolutionize patient management, according to a press release. The others joining the board are Olympic medal-winning snowboarder Mark McMorris and former NHL player Bryce Salvador. The three athletes will be joined also by Andy OBrien, the director of sport science and performance for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Highmark Interactive claims that over one million Canadians live with a brain injury, but management and treatment options are not widely known are available a silent epidemic. Major athletes are looking to the private sector for help in the fight against concussions, Wickenheiser said in a statement. Its great to be a part of such a collaborative team of athletes, doctors and tech innovators who care deeply about supporting the research and treatment of traumatic brain injuries. Get The Latest Sports Tech News In … Continue reading →

LOWELL -- The Lowell Treatment Center, a local psychiatric hospital, faces more than $200,000 in fines from the federal agency responsibility for overseeing workplace safety for allegedly exposing staff members to risks of violence. Employees faced hazards of "death or serious physical harm" from patients despite the hospital previously agreeing to address safety concerns, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration wrote in June. In a press release last week, OSHA announced that it would propose $207,690 in penalties for the center. "Our inspectors found that employees throughout the Lowell Treatment Center continued to be exposed to incidents of workplace violence that could have been greatly reduced had the employer fully implemented the settlement agreement," Galen Blanton, OSHA's regional administrator in Boston, wrote in the release. OSHA first warned of safety violations at the Varnum Avenue facility in May 2015 following an inspection, according to the press release. Investigators found that the hospital's roughly 130 employees faced risks of "verbal threats of assault, physical assaults, choking, punches, kicks, human bites, scratches and/or pulling of hair by patients." The 41-bed center, operated by Universal Health Services of Westwood Pembroke, Inc., agreed in April 2016 to implement new measures … Continue reading →

Photo credit: NTU The National Neuroscience Institute (NNI[1]) and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) announced a collaboration to develop innovative technologies to better diagnose and treat patients with neurological conditions such as Parkinsons disease and brain injuries. Projects The projects for the first year of fellowship include the development of artificial intelligence systems to accurately identify types of traumatic brain injuries from computed tomography (CT) scans and to precisely identify tissues during bran surgeries. Using machine learning to diagnose intracranial haemorrhage Traumatic brain injury, commonly known as head injury, is a leading cause of disabilities and deaths in adults below 40 years old in Singapore. Head injuries can occur after traffic accidents, falls, fights, sports and recreational injuries. Every week, the National Neuroscience Institute sees 20-30 patients with traumatic brain injuries being admitted. CT brain scans are used to check for any intracranial haemorrhage or bleeding that occurs inside the skull, which could require surgery. The scans need to be interpreted quickly and accurately by trained doctors to ensure patients have the best outcomes, as delays of a few minutes can mean the difference between a good and a poor outcome. The success of artificial intelligence computational algorithms in … Continue reading →

CATAWBA COUNTY Student athletes in five area high schools and one area college will undergo special testing this academic year to monitor the effects of mild traumatic brain injuries- or concussions. Led by Catawba Valley Medical Center, Bandys, St. Stephens, Bunker Hill, Maiden, and Newton-Conover high schools along with Catawba Valley Community College, have already begun the baseline testing. ImPACT, or Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment Cognitive Testing, is used in hospitals and schools throughout the country, and takes roughly 20 minutes to complete. Think of it like a personality test, said Dr. Keith McManus, the sports medicine director at CVMC. The test gives a profile on cognitive function and personality. McManus said the sports medicine program at CVMC has trainers at each school that will be responsible for administering the tests and gathering the results. Marcus Osborne, director of Wellness Services at CVMC, said the test will be administered to the majority of athletes at these schools with priority given to sports with high risk of head injury, such as football, soccer and cheerleading. If a head injury happens, the athlete will repeat the ImPACT test within 72 hours, he said. From there, the athlete's doctor and schools concussion management team … Continue reading →

Gwinnett Medical Center unveiled Georgias first sports injury treatment center and concussion classroom on wheels Wednesday. This is the first vehicle of its kind in the state of Georgia and one of the first in the United States, said Kristin Crea, director of GMCs Sports Medicine department. The Sports Medicine and Concussion Care-A-Van is a mobile care unit equipped with a full-service athletic training room. Basically, it allows GMCs Sports Medicine department to take its injury treatment and prevention services on the road. When we travel around and talk to different directors, most athletic directors and coaches dont have access to injury prevention, Crea said. This really allows us to reach and have better access to these places that dont have this kind of care. That includes care for concussions. GMCs Sports Medicine department includes a Concussion Institute directed by Dr. Saadiq El-Amid. Since the institute opened in August 2013, its treated more than 8,500 concussions. Concussions are happening at epidemic levels, Crea said. But El-Amid said the real scary cases are concussions that never receive treatment or get attention too late. I cant tell you how many people ignore concussions, he said. If you ignore a concussion and continue … Continue reading →

Jordan Deschenesjdeschenes@tauntongazette.com DIGHTON In 2013, Roberto Cabral remembers that his life changed in an instant. As he was operating a forklift at Bristol Marine, he fell two stories and suffered a traumatic brain injury. At the time, the ensuing situation seemed hopeless for Cabral he was left deaf in his left ear, could not balance while standing, and had trouble regulating his emotions. After nearly four years, Cabral is now an avid runner with a half-marathon already under his belt. This Sunday, hell be running seven miles to raise awareness about TBIs on behalf of the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts in the 2017 New Balance Falmouth Road Race. I struggled to come to terms with my injuries at first, it was hard to swallow, said Cabral. I had to accept that this was a new normal for me and that everyday is a new challenge. Each one, I take seriously. In addition to a TBI, Cabral also suffered spinal fractures, broken ribs, a punctured lung, blood clots, and fractures in his left temporal and frontal lobes. As a result of his brain injuries, doctors told him that hed have trouble with the most basic everyday activities, from walking to … Continue reading →

Most Americans have heard about the toll of traumatic brain injury on the military. It is painful to read of the nonstop migraines, sleepless nights, failing memory, uncontrollable rages, persistent and intense anxiety, broken families, lost jobs and suicides during and after service that go with the condition. Since 2001, more than 360,000 military service members have been diagnosed with TBI. Until recently nothing could reliably be done to relieve suffering. But now, through Senate Bill 197, the California Legislature is moving to assist a public-private partnership that returns 92 percent to 94 percent of active duty TBI sufferers treated to family and careers with a 50 percent drop in opioid use versus other modes of care. After the Senates recent unanimous approval, it remains only for the Assembly Appropriations Committee to release SB 197 from the suspense file, so the entire Assembly, too, can give an official hurrah to this visionary initiative. Over the last eight years, a remarkable not-for-profit foundation has been giving TBIs military victims increasing reason for hope. The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, in collaboration with one of Californias top brain injury experts and a nationwide team of doctors and researchers, has been transforming the terror … Continue reading →

Major General Andrew P. Poppas, commanding general of the 101st Airborne Division and Fort Campbell, visited the posts Intrepid Spirit Center, Friday, for an update on the latest research and care for Soldiers with traumatic brain injuries and psychological health conditions. Intrepid Spirit is an outpatient center on Fort Campbell that treats about 1,800 to 2,700 patients monthly. The center has a dual mission of clinical care and clinical research. Poppas and several brigade and battalion commanders visited the Intrepid to better understand its capabilities for the Army and in helping Soldiers manage traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic pain. Well first, the level of professionalism of all the doctors that I have dealt with here has been exceptional, Poppas said. They walked through exactly what they are trying to accomplish with each of the tests and, as you [complete] them, you get to see what the test indicators mean. So, its educational as we go through it. The techniques used at Intrepid are oriented to neuromodulation, which is a process where the brain heals itself through brain exercise and reconditioning. Patients may use a combination of ancient methods like Tai-Chi, yoga and acupuncture as well as ultra-modern … Continue reading →

A Lincoln solicitors is supporting a one-day conference exploring the latest developments in the treatment and management of brain injuries. Langleys Solicitors is supporting, 'From Roadside to Rehabilitation' a Patient's Journey which is being staged by the charity Headway Lincolnshire on September 14. The conference will hear from health professionals and experts about the rehabilitation process involved for brain injured patients. Latest figures show that more than 4,000 people in Lincolnshire sustained brain injury in 2013 to 2014. Last year, Headway Lincolnshire provided support to 140 new patients. Members of Langleys medical law and private client teams are also taking part in the event, providing an insight into a solicitors role in the rehabilitation process. Andrew Cragg, head of the medical law team at Langleys, said: The conference will bring together health and social care professionals and experts like ourselves who are involved in a patients treatment and rehabilitation following a brain injury. Our aim is to discuss the latest best practice to enable all of us to support our clients as they continue on their rehabilitation journey. The conference takes place at The Showroom, Tritton Road, Lincoln. To book a place, email Ann-Marie Smith: info@headwaylincolnshire.org.uk Go here to read … Continue reading →

Jordan Deschenesjdeschenes@tauntongazette.com DIGHTON In 2013, Roberto Cabral remembers that his life changed in an instant. As he was operating a forklift at Bristol Marine, he fell two stories and suffered a traumatic brain injury. At the time, the ensuing situation seemed hopeless for Cabral he was left deaf in his left ear, could not balance while standing, and had trouble regulating his emotions. After nearly four years, Cabral is now an avid runner with a half-marathon already under his belt. This Sunday, hell be running seven miles to raise awareness about TBIs on behalf of the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts in the 2017 New Balance Falmouth Road Race. I struggled to come to terms with my injuries at first, it was hard to swallow, said Cabral. I had to accept that this was a new normal for me and that everyday is a new challenge. Each one, I take seriously. In addition to a TBI, Cabral also suffered spinal fractures, broken ribs, a punctured lung, blood clots, and fractures in his left temporal and frontal lobes. As a result of his brain injuries, doctors told him that hed have trouble with the most basic everyday activities, from walking to … Continue reading →