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Comprehensive Concussion Program

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Our program provides the support your child needs if they are facing a more acute and complicated concussion or one with persisting symptoms. We'll provide guidance on your child's return to school and physical activity, help manage medication for neurological symptoms and do more to ensure your child recovers fully from their concussion.

The Comprehensive Concussion Program monitors and manages the care of children, adolescents and young adults who are experiencing complex injuries, as well as prolonged and/or complicated recovery from their concussion.

Located within the Fight for Children Sports Medicine Center, our program experts assess issues that contribute to ongoing symptoms of concussion, develop a treatment plan for your child and provide follow-up care to guide your child’s recovery.

Specific areas of focus include:

  • Guidance on how to support your child’s return to school
  • Managing neurological symptoms with medication
  • Strategies for alleviating pain and stress
  • Supporting sleep and hydration during recovery
  • Physical therapy for aerobic, vestibular and cervical-spinal dysfunction (coming soon)

The Comprehensive Concussion Program is a collaboration between several departments at Children's National Hospital, including the Safe Concussion Outcome Recovery & Education (SCORE) Program, Neurology, Behavioral Pain Medicine and Physical Therapy (coming soon).

Who We Help

The Comprehensive Concussion Program serves children, adolescents and young adults, ages 4 to 22, who meet any of the following criteria:

  • Acute symptoms occurring in multiple areas (physical, cognitive, emotional, and fatigue/sleep, cervical)
  • More “severe” acute injury with loss of consciousness > 1 minute or memory loss at the time of the injury
  • High number or severity of acute symptoms
  • Symptoms that are persisting at least one month post-injury

Schedule an Appointment

Families may call 202-476-2429 to schedule an intake appointment. Appointments in this specialized program consist of your child meeting with several healthcare providers over the course of several hours. The program is held twice per month, on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month.

Preparing for your Visit

  • Families should bring copies of important documentation (e.g., previous evaluations/testing) to your child’s appointment.
  • We take a team approach during appointments; families will meet with multiple providers to assess various areas of functioning.
    • Visits typically last 3-4 hours.
    • Families will be sent several online forms for both caregiver and child to complete prior to visit.

Refer a Patient

Providers who are considering referring a patient to the program may email Chief of Neuropsychology Gerard Gioia, Ph.D., to discuss whether our program can best meet your patient’s needs.

Additional Concussion Care

Children’s National also provides care for children with concussions through the Safe Concussion Outcome Recovery & Education (SCORE) Program, which has clinicians trained in concussion assessment and management. It has locations at Takoma Theatre (D.C.), Rockville, Prince George’s County, Annapolis and Salisbury, Maryland.

  • Families seeking care who do not meet the criteria for the Comprehensive Concussion Program may call 202-476-2429 to schedule an appointment with the SCORE Program.
  • Providers may also refer patients to the SCORE Program at the same number.
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