It is extremely important that you seek appropriate rehabilitation care as soon as possible after traumatic brain injury (TBI) or suspected mild traumatic brain injury, also known as concussion or mTBI. Research has shown that patients experiencing concussion are much less likely to have persistent symptoms when they receive appropriate care within the first 2 weeks after their injury. J.D. Supra recently reported "An article published in April, 2020 by the American College of Emergency Physicians reports on evidence that underdiagnosis of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) ‘is a pervasive problem in the emergency setting,’ and that even patients who receive a diagnosis are unlikely to receive appropriate discharge education and are therefore at risk of missing opportunities for treatment, referral and improvement in outcomes.” The researchers found that in patients considered “at high risk for mTBI,” less than 50% of the patients “were evaluated on the issues recommended by the CDC, the Department of Defense/Veterans Affairs, or the 5th International Conference on Concussion in Sport.” Furthermore, “MTBI was documented as a differential diagnosis in only 45.9% of these high risk patients,” and “only 6.1% of these high risk patients received a mTBI-specific ICD-10 code..” (Source Neuro Optometric Rehabilitation Association)
Emergency room care is excellent for treatment of immediate concerns related to head injury, however the most up to date research recommends that you seek care with a specialist in head trauma rehabilitation, even if you feel fine. Symptoms of concussion can begin days or weeks after the initial injury. Call Visionary Optometry of Long Island to find a rehabilitation specialist on Long Island who can oversee your care and recovery. 631-791-5155