Safe Concussion Outcome Recovery & Education (SCORE) Program
Contact number
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202-476-2429
Do You Have Questions About Concussions?
The SCORE team wants parents, coaches, teachers and youth to be informed about concussions. We've put together a comprehensive resource page to keep you informed and help with any concerns.
View concussion resources
The Safe Concussion Outcome Recovery & Education (SCORE) Program at Children’s National Hospital is a comprehensive clinical, research and educational program to evaluate and manage the care of children and adolescents with concussions (also known as mild traumatic brain injury or mTBI). The program consults with healthcare providers regionally and nationally, as well as scholastic and youth recreational sports programs in which children are vulnerable to injury. Clinicians in the SCORE program have a specific expertise in managing academic needs and will work with your school to assure a safe and effective return to school.
The SCORE program was the first concussion program in the greater D.C., Maryland and Virginia region specializing in the evaluation and management of concussions in children and adolescents. In addition to its primary focus with youth, the SCORE program also services college and professional sports teams including the NFL's Baltimore Ravens, NHL's Washington Capitals and Major League Rugby's DC Old Glory.
Our program has four goals:
- Provide the highest level of service to children, adolescents and young adults with concussions/mild TBI
- Increase research-based knowledge, skills and instrumentation used in evaluation and treatment of concussion/mild TBI
- Develop the next generation of highly qualified professionals to treat children and adolescents with concussions/mild TBI
- Improve the general knowledge and skill of persons in the medical, educational and athletic community regarding the specific treatment/needs of individuals with concussion/mild TBI
Clinical Services
The SCORE clinic is staffed by neuropsychologists and neuropsychology post-doctoral fellows who specialize in precise identification, monitoring and management of children, adolescents and college student-athletes, ages 4 to 22, who have sustained a concussion.
We offer clinical appointments throughout the week in our various locations: Rockville, Annapolis, Takoma Theatre (D.C.), and Salisbury, MD.
The program uses specialized state-of-the-art testing and symptom assessments, which are sensitive to detecting concussion-related dysfunction. The clinic works collaboratively with neurology, behavioral medicine, sleep medicine and physical therapy to treat all aspects of the injury.
Clinicians in the SCORE program use these findings to make detailed recommendations to patients about returning to school, play and work via the ACE Care Plan.
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Parents of children experiencing initial symptoms of a concussion should call 202-476-2429 to make an appointment. An appointment should be made if a child is experiencing the following:
- Headache or pressure in head
- Dizziness or balance problems
- Double or blurred vision
- Sensitivity to light
- Fatigue
- Mental fogginess
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory problems
- Feeling slowed down
- Sadness or irritability
- Sleep disruption
Emergency Department referral is recommended for children with sudden onset, within the first 1-2 days after the injury, of any of the following "danger" signs of possible neurological deterioration, including:
- Headaches that worsen
- Looks very drowsy or can’t be awakened
- Can’t recognize people or places
- Change in state of consciousness
- Focal neurologic signs
- Increasing confusion or irritability
- Neck pain
- Seizures
- Slurred speech
- Repeated vomiting
- Unusual behavioral change
- Weakness or numbness in arms/legs
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Through research investigation, the SCORE program aims to increase knowledge, skills and instrumentation in the evaluation and treatment of children, adolescents and young adults with concussion/mild TBI.
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The SCORE program aims to improve the knowledge and skill of people in the medical, educational and athletic community regarding the specific needs of individuals with concussion/mild TBI. Faculty and fellows in the SCORE program disseminate the latest information to families, patients, school personnel, physicians and other healthcare providers, and community agency personnel through seminars, workshops, in-services, online resources and consultations.
Essential Concussion Care for Long-Term Recovery
Experts in our interdisciplinary Comprehensive Concussion Program care for children, adolescents and young adults who have persisting symptoms after a concussion, providing an array of treatment services including medication management, strategies for alleviating pain and stress, school supports and more as they recover.
Explore Comprehensive Concussion Program
Contact Us
To reach out administrators, call 301-765-5430 or fax us at 301-765-5497. For appointments, call 202-476-2429.
We are located at:
15245 Shady Grove Rd, Suite 350 (South Building)
Rockville, MD 20850
Concussion Program Team
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Gerard Gioia
Director, Safe Concussion Outcome, Recovery and Education (SCORE) Program
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Julie Newman
Neuropsychologist
Assistant Training Director, Neuropsychology
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Christopher Vaughan
Assistant Director, SCORE Program
Neuropsychologist
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