Cottage Concussion Clinic
Appointments
To schedule an appointment with Rebecca Pifer, NP at the Cottage Concussion Clinic, please call 805-879-4240.
The Cottage Concussion Clinic is the region’s referral center and safety-net provider for concussion or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) management for the youth in Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties.
The clinic provides comprehensive services that include diagnosis and individualized treatment plans for concussions. We create an academic plan to help get the student back into the school environment while they recover. Once the child has fully recovered and completes a graded return to play protocol, the clinic provides formal sports clearance along with future sport recommendations.
Baseline Testing
Baseline concussion testing is a preventative measure and promotes health optimization prior to the start of a sport season. Baseline testing includes information about the athlete's history, graded symptom checklists, detailed neurologic exam, vestibular-ocular motor screening, cognitive function and balance testing.
In the event of a concussion, the data not only helps identify a concussion, but presents an individual’s normative values to guide recovery. The data obtained supports medical professionals by providing a more individualized approach to concussion management while planning for return to school and safe return to play protocols, or an effective rehabilitation program.
The clinics experts are also available to educate students, teams, young athletes and their families to increase concussion awareness.
Cottage Concussion Clinic Staff
The clinic was founded by Stephen Kaminski, MD, the medical director of trauma services at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and is operated by Rebecca Pifer, ACNP-BC, MSN, BSN, RN, RN- FA, highly trained and experienced in treating concussions.
Referrals placed as needed may include our Pediatric Neurologist Dr. Genevieve Cruz as well as Orthopedics, Physical therapy, Occupational therapy, Speech Therapy, Ophthalmology, Neuropsychologist and Behavioral Health..
Concussion Fast Facts
- An estimated 3.8 million concussions occur in the U.S. every year among the 40 million children participating in organized sports
- It’s estimated that 50% of concussions go unreported
- 30% of concussions occur between ages 5-19
- A history of one concussion is associated with a higher risk for subsequent concussion
- The leading cause of sports concussion is football for males and soccer for females
