Ottawa Family Medicine Physician Joins Concussion Management Team
January 25, 2021, MORRIS, IL – Dr. Paulo Aranas, a board-certified family medicine physician at the Morris Hospital Ottawa Campus, has received certification in Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT).
As a Credentialed ImPACT Provider, Dr. Aranas has now joined Morris Hospital’s Concussion Management Program that works to improve outcomes for individuals diagnosed with concussions. This certification signifies that Dr. Aranas has received specialized training that allows him to safely diagnose and manage the treatment of concussion for patients ages 5 through 59 using ImPACT, a computerized test that provides data to evaluate a patient’s post-injury condition and aids in tracking recovery. He is able to evaluate the severity of a concussion and carefully manage and monitor patient care.
Dr. Aranas sees patients at the Morris Hospital Ottawa Campus, 1306 Gemini Circle, Suite 1, Ottawa. Along with Dr. Aranas, Morris Hospital’s other ImPACT certified providers include Dr. Isaac Mezo and Dr. Samuel Quaynor, neurologists; Dr. Jaynee Pendergast, family medicine; and Stefanie Henline, neurology nurse practitioner.
Called “Getting Your Brain Back On Track,” Morris Hospital’s comprehensive and evidence-based concussion management program utilizes emergency or immediate care, neurology and rehabilitation services to enhance concussion diagnosis, evaluation and treatment. The program was launched in September 2020 due to an increase in concussions in the community specifically due to sports-related and head injuries.
A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head that causes movement in the brain. This sudden movement in the head can cause chemical changes in the brain and sometimes stretch or damage brain cells, causing neurological symptoms. Common symptoms of a concussion include headache, dizziness, nausea, sensitivity to light, concentration or memory problems, confusion, vomiting, vision problems or feeling sluggish, hazy or groggy. Concussions range in severity from minor injuries that heal with rest to serious conditions that can have long-term effects on daily life.
When a head injury occurs and symptoms last more than a few minutes, patients are strongly encouraged to visit an emergency department or immediate care center so a provider can rule out a serious injury. Patients who are diagnosed with concussion at Morris Hospital’s walk-in care locations will be referred for a priority care assessment and neurological exam within 48 hours with an ImPACT certified provider who is specially trained in post-concussion diagnosis, evaluation and treatment.
Depending on symptoms, providers may refer patients for physical therapy or speech therapy with an ImPACT certified therapist who will oversee the active rehabilitation for patients who are recovering from a concussion. Morris Hospital has ImPACT certified physical therapists who work at the Diagnostic & Rehabilitative Center of Morris Hospital.
For more information about the concussion management program, please visit www.morrishospital.org/concussion or call the Morris Hospital Ottawa Campus at 815-433-9200 or call the Morris Hospital Neurology Specialists’ offices at 815-467-0555 (Channahon) or 815-942-4506 (Morris).
