Department of Neurology at the Neuroscience Institute at Hackensack University Medical Center Ensures Patients Entering Hospital Through the Emergency Trauma Center Have Access to Specialists

Patients who present with conditions such as headache, spine pain and concussion at emergency trauma center get quick access to specialists

The Department of Neurology at the Neuroscience Institute at Hackensack University Medical Center has established a protocol to ensure patients who present at the emergency trauma center with a headache, spine pain, concussion or similar symptoms are offered access to our interprofessional team of neurology specialists for follow-up. We offer appointments with specialists, as well as referrals to allied health professionals in psychology and rehabilitation medicine.

The neurology team specializes in treating refractory migraine headaches that do not respond to conventional therapies, but expert diagnosis and coordinated care for all types of headaches is available, including cervicogenic headache, chronic daily headaches, cluster headaches, concussion-related headaches, facial pain, migraine headaches, new daily persistent headaches, tension headaches, and trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias.

Neurology experts provide follow-up evaluation and treatment for adults and children who have been diagnosed with a concussion or traumatic brain injury. HUMC’s concussion team, led by Felicia Gliksman, D.O., MPH, includes child and adult neurologists, headache specialists, geriatricians, neuropsychologists, counseling psychologists, physical and occupational therapists, and speech therapists. Together, they will evaluate you and provide a customized plan of care.

Finally, of note, the Hackensack Spine Surgery Program has earned the Disease-Specific Care certification from The Joint Commission for demonstrating excellence in surgical spine care. Directors Dr. Patrick Roth and Dr. Roy Vingan have more than 50 years of combined experience in treatment of the spine, treating arthritis, degenerative disc disease, disc herniation/slipped disc, myelopathy, neck pain, osteoporosis, radiculopathy, sciatica, spinal fractures/trauma, spinal stenosis, spinal tumors, spondylolisthesis and spondylosis.

While pioneers in minimally invasive and robot-assisted spine surgery, the team also is highly trained in a full range of nonsurgical treatment options, emphasizing core strengthening and embodied cognition (the mind-body connection). Other nonsurgical options include physical therapy, steroid injection, lumbar ablation using radiofrequency energy, nerve blocks and hydrotherapy.