Banner Health First to Offer BrainScope in Northern Nevada

Submitted by Banner Health -- Patients in northern Nevada will benefit from a new technology that allows for quicker assessments of head injuries, including concussions. Doctors at Banner Health Center in Fernley and the Banner Health Clinic in Fallon are now offering BrainScope, a non-invasive, hand-held device used to make head injury assessments on site in non-emergency situations. In order for doctors to use BrainScope, patients must be between the ages of 18 and 85 years old and have an evaluation within three days of the injury. “We are excited to have this device and be able to provide a new service to our community,” said Leticia Mathern, practice manager at the Banner Health Center in Fernley. “Even though we’re a rural area, we strive to stay up on the latest practices and give our patients the highest level of care.” According to the Brain Injury Alliance, a traumatic brain injury occurs every 23 seconds in the U.S. For doctors, brain and head injuries, such as concussions, are challenging to assess. BrainScope, recently cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is an electroencephalogram-based (EEG) device with a disposable headset that connects to a handheld device. Using smartphone software, it works by measuring the brain’s electrical activity and the patient’s neurocognitive function, allowing doctors to easily, quickly and accurately evaluate an injury. Mathern said for both the center in Fernley and the clinic in Fallon, the goal is to assess and treat concussions earlier and eliminate CT scans where possible. Staff at both locations have been trained on the new device, she said, adding that additional Banner clinics will begin offering the device later this year. Banner Health Center in Fernley is located at 1260 Nevada Pacific Blvd. Call (775) 575-7171 to schedule an appointment or visit the website.. Banner Health Clinic in Fallon is located at 801 E. Williams Ave., suite 2207. Call (775) 867-7740 to schedule an appointment or visit visit the Fallon website In emergency situations, Mathern said, always visit your nearest emergency room or call 911 immediately. Headquartered in Arizona, Banner Health is one of the largest nonprofit health care systems in the country. The system owns and operates 28 acute-care hospitals, Banner Health Network, Banner – University Medicine, academic and employed physician groups, long-term care centers, outpatient surgery centers and an array of other services; including Banner Urgent Care, family clinics, home care and hospice services, pharmacies and a nursing registry. Banner Health is in six states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming.   Never miss the local news -- read more on The Fallon Post home page. Sign up to receive updates and the Friday File email notices.