Brain Injury Course: Strategies for Primary Care Settings is proudly presented to you by Brain Injury Association of North Carolina's Online Learning Center. Thank you. We hope that you enjoy your course.
In 2013, the Center for Disease Control reported 2.8 million Americans sustained a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), only including hospitalizations, emergency department visits and deaths, and not including those treated in primary care settings or who went untreated. TBI, often called the silent epidemic, is a chronic public health issue that all healthcare professionals should be aware of to aid in administering accurate treatment. This course guides primary care physicians and other medical professionals through TBI information and vulnerable populations, challenges and tools for diagnosis, and the brain injury continuum of care to promote understanding and identification of TBI. With this understanding, individuals with TBI may more effectively access the supports needed to reach maximum potential, improved quality of life, and community participation.
Course Objectives:
a. Define acquired and traumatic brain injury including incidence, severity, and marked functional changes.
b. Identify vulnerable populations to traumatic brain injury and considerations as primary care staff.
c. Investigate different screening methods at the primary care level for traumatic brain injury.
d. Conclude how primary care staff can be involved in the continuum of care for individuals with traumatic brain injury.
Participants should verify all continuing education credit information regarding licensure requirements with their state licensing board(s). Licenses are offered and renewed at the sole discretion of the state boards.
Author(s):
Aaron Vaughan, MD
Dr. Aaron Vaughan is the Sports Medicine Director and Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship Director at Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) in Asheville, NC. He received his medical training at the University of Virginia and The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill having worked closely with athletes including the Carolina Hurricanes Professional Hockey team. In combining his passion and clinical expertise in sports and medicine, he currently acts as team physician for the Asheville Tourists Minor League Professional Baseball team, UNC-Asheville, Warren Wilson College, the Asheville Rugby Club, and 4 local high schools.
Laurie R. Leach, Ph.D., ABN
Dr. Laurie Leach is a board certified neuropsychologist who did her graduate training at the University of Missouri-Columbia and her internship and post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Florida-Gainesville. She is currently the director of Neuropsychology services and program director for the Brain Injury Rehab Services and Neuro Care Unit and Program at WakeMed Health & Hospitals.
Cheryle Sullivan, MD
Dr. Sullivan obtained her medical degree at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and completed her Family Practice residency at Saginaw Cooperative Hospitals in Michigan. Dr. Sullivan worked as a family physician for 18 years and a medical office administrator the 3 years until her career was ended by the effects of repetitive concussions in 2005.
Lauren Costello, MS, CRC, CBIS
Lauren obtained dual Bachelor's degrees from Virginia Tech in Biological Sciences & Psychology. She then pursued her Master's degree in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. She has worked in the hospital and community settings with special populations including acquired/traumatic brain, burn, and spinal cord injuries to name a few. She currently works at the Brain Injury Association of North Carolina as Central Resource & State Training Coordinator. She is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and Brain Injury Specialist.
Target Audience:
Primary Care Physicians & other Medical Professionals