Auckland Concussion Service has been established to provide early access and timely assessment for people who have sustained a mild (concussion) or moderate traumatic injury or have post concussion syndrome.For ACC to fund the referral the client needs to be between 10 days – 12 months post injury, have an accepted ACC claim and be referred by their GP, Accident and Medical Centre or ACC Case Manager. Following a concussion or moderate brain injury people commonly experiences range of symptoms including:
Once a referral is received, an experienced therapist meets with the client to carry out an initial interview to gather more information about the accident and ongoing symptoms and difficulties. The client will be provided with information and advice about brain injury, and how the client can manage symptoms to ensure they are on the right path for recovery.
A treatment and rehabilitation plan is developed and forwarded to the ACC Case Manager. This can include any of the following, depending upon the clients needs:
- Headaches and dizziness
- Tiring more easily
- Difficulty sleeping
- Forgetfulness and memory problems
- Difficulty concentrating and being easily distracted
- Slowed thinking
- Irritability, depression, anxiety and personality changes
- Balance or dizziness
- Noise / light sensitivity
Once a referral is received, an experienced therapist meets with the client to carry out an initial interview to gather more information about the accident and ongoing symptoms and difficulties. The client will be provided with information and advice about brain injury, and how the client can manage symptoms to ensure they are on the right path for recovery.
A treatment and rehabilitation plan is developed and forwarded to the ACC Case Manager. This can include any of the following, depending upon the clients needs:
- Medical assessment with Neurologist or Neuropsychiatrist, to assess and treat headaches, sleep disturbances, mood disturbances
- Neuropsychological screening assessment – to assess cognitive function/deficits (how well your brain is thinking and processing information)
- Allied health assessment – Neurophysiotherapy, Speech Language Therapy, or Occupational Therapy as appropriate, to further assess injury effects
- Allied Health therapy sessions –from any of the therapy team to provide advice to the client about how to manage their symptoms and recover
Medical consultations – as a follow up to the medical assessment - Psychological consultation – sessions with a psychologist if needed to assist the client to manage any mood issues relating to their injury.
- When ACC give approval the assessment/therapy commences – this can take place over weeks or months depending on need, therapy sessions can take place in the client’s home, work, school, educational institute or where ever appropriate, including Concussion Service clinics around Auckland.
- A report is written for ACC on completion of the programme, at which time most people are recovered and ready for discharge from Concussion Service, otherwise the report will recommend other services/treatment that the client may need.
We offer an early accurate diagnosis, advice and follow up, as well as a structured return to sport, based on the national sporting code.
Appointments involve:
Appointments involve:
- Thorough concussion history
- Balance assessment
- Clinical neurological and cervical spine examination
- Cognitive function assessment
Concussion ServiceLET US CONNECT YOUConcussion ServicesWhat is Concussion?
The term Concussion usually refers to a mild to moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI). This can occur from a blow to the head or a sudden stop (e.g. in a car accident), and it can happen with or without being knocked out. People who have sustained a concussion often experience symptoms, such as headache, fatigue, irritability, dizziness, nausea or slowed processing speed. In most cases, these issues resolve completely within a few weeks. For a small number of people, their difficulties may persist for 3-12 months.
What is the Concussion Service?
The Concussion Service is a interdisciplinary service (which means a number of different health disciplines can be involved, working together as a team), funded by ACC to support people in their recovery from a mild to moderate TBI. The service provides effective interventions and education to help avoid symptoms continuing beyond the usual recovery time. The service is fully funded when approved by ACC, so there is no cost to the client.
The service is structured to work holistically and aims to get people back to their usual activities as soon as possible. The assessment process allows the service to be tailored to meet the needs of each individual, to get the best recovery possible. There are a range of professionals who specialise in treating mild to moderate TBI and may be involved in treatment. They work together with each other, clients, family/whanau, and ACC to ensure long-term recovery for clients. The team may include:
You can be referred to the Concussion Service by a medical professional, such as your General Practitioner (GP) or Emergency Department staff, or by your ACC Case Manager. These referrers can request Active+ as your provider for the Concussion Service, by sending referrals to headoffice@activeplus.co.nz or Healthlink “activepl”. Once the referral has been sent to Active +, an assessment session will be arranged with you to work out what your specific needs are. From there, the best combination of treatments will be discussed with you. Please download our information flyer on the right hand side of this page for more information.
New additions to the Concussion Service team
Active Plus is delighted to announce that Neurologists,Dr Roz Hill and Dr Rakesh Patel have joined our Concussion Service team, adding to the existing team of medical expertise; Samir Anwar (Rehab Physician), Tipu Amir (Psychiatry and pain), Rod Nicholson and Rajib Ghosh, Occupational Physicians and Jan Schepel (Neurology Auckland, South and Waikato).
Dr Hill has worked within Concussion Services over the last 20 years and she specialises in adults while Dr Patel is a paediatric specialist. They work in close partnership with the Clinical Leads for Active+ Concussion Service, Penny McGarry and Jan Henry, who have both been at the forefront of brain injury rehabilitation for many years and were integral in the establishment of the ACC Concussion Service Contract. We also offer a full Interdisciplinary team of experienced Occupational Therapists, Neurophysiotherapists, Registered Nurses, Speech Language therapists and Neruopsychologists. Together they will assist your patients to manage their symptoms, prevent further injury and get back to their everyday lives and work.
We also provide a full continuum of rehabilitation services, (Vocational, Pain Management, Training for Independence, Psychological Services, Musculo-skeletal Physio etc.) enabling us to transition clients to other contracts should they need it.
Make a referral directly to us by sending referrals to headoffice@activeplus.co.nz or Healthlink “activepl”.
The term Concussion usually refers to a mild to moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI). This can occur from a blow to the head or a sudden stop (e.g. in a car accident), and it can happen with or without being knocked out. People who have sustained a concussion often experience symptoms, such as headache, fatigue, irritability, dizziness, nausea or slowed processing speed. In most cases, these issues resolve completely within a few weeks. For a small number of people, their difficulties may persist for 3-12 months.
What is the Concussion Service?
The Concussion Service is a interdisciplinary service (which means a number of different health disciplines can be involved, working together as a team), funded by ACC to support people in their recovery from a mild to moderate TBI. The service provides effective interventions and education to help avoid symptoms continuing beyond the usual recovery time. The service is fully funded when approved by ACC, so there is no cost to the client.
The service is structured to work holistically and aims to get people back to their usual activities as soon as possible. The assessment process allows the service to be tailored to meet the needs of each individual, to get the best recovery possible. There are a range of professionals who specialise in treating mild to moderate TBI and may be involved in treatment. They work together with each other, clients, family/whanau, and ACC to ensure long-term recovery for clients. The team may include:
- Medical specialists including Neurologists
- Occupational Therapists
- Psychologists/Neuropsychologists
- Physiotherapists
- Registered Nurse
- Speech and Language Therapist
- Social Worker
You can be referred to the Concussion Service by a medical professional, such as your General Practitioner (GP) or Emergency Department staff, or by your ACC Case Manager. These referrers can request Active+ as your provider for the Concussion Service, by sending referrals to headoffice@activeplus.co.nz or Healthlink “activepl”. Once the referral has been sent to Active +, an assessment session will be arranged with you to work out what your specific needs are. From there, the best combination of treatments will be discussed with you. Please download our information flyer on the right hand side of this page for more information.
New additions to the Concussion Service team
Active Plus is delighted to announce that Neurologists,Dr Roz Hill and Dr Rakesh Patel have joined our Concussion Service team, adding to the existing team of medical expertise; Samir Anwar (Rehab Physician), Tipu Amir (Psychiatry and pain), Rod Nicholson and Rajib Ghosh, Occupational Physicians and Jan Schepel (Neurology Auckland, South and Waikato).
Dr Hill has worked within Concussion Services over the last 20 years and she specialises in adults while Dr Patel is a paediatric specialist. They work in close partnership with the Clinical Leads for Active+ Concussion Service, Penny McGarry and Jan Henry, who have both been at the forefront of brain injury rehabilitation for many years and were integral in the establishment of the ACC Concussion Service Contract. We also offer a full Interdisciplinary team of experienced Occupational Therapists, Neurophysiotherapists, Registered Nurses, Speech Language therapists and Neruopsychologists. Together they will assist your patients to manage their symptoms, prevent further injury and get back to their everyday lives and work.
We also provide a full continuum of rehabilitation services, (Vocational, Pain Management, Training for Independence, Psychological Services, Musculo-skeletal Physio etc.) enabling us to transition clients to other contracts should they need it.
Make a referral directly to us by sending referrals to headoffice@activeplus.co.nz or Healthlink “activepl”.
