HQ BaselineTelehealth
Telehealth Concussion Care: Can You Do a Baseline Test Over Video Call?
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of telehealth across medicine, and concussion care was no exception.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of telehealth across medicine, and concussion care was no exception. In 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) expanded telemedicine coverage to include concussion-related CPT codes (96116, 96132, 96133), enabling reimbursement for remote neurocognitive evaluation. Several baseline testing platforms now support supervised remote administration.
What works well remotely
- Supervised cognitive testing (ImPACT can be administered at home while a clinician observes effort and environment via video).
- Smartphone-based balance assessment (Sway Medical allows clinicians to view real-time balance data remotely).
- Symptom inventory completion.
- Clinical interview and history-taking.
- Concussion education for families.
Research published in Concussion (2023) demonstrated that the BESS can be reliably scored via remote observation over video platforms like Zoom.
What doesn’t work well remotely
- Hands-on neurological examination (pupil response, cervical spine assessment).
- VOMS administration (requires close observation of eye movements and measurement of near point of convergence distance with a ruler — difficult through a screen).
- Formal BESS scoring on foam surfaces (which requires in-person setup).
Who benefits most
Families in rural areas without access to concussion specialists — the Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare has documented significant geographic disparities in concussion specialist availability. Military families who relocate frequently and may lose continuity with a concussion care provider. Underserved communities where the nearest concussion clinic may be hours away. And athletes in follow-up phases of recovery who need monitoring but don’t necessarily need hands-on examination at every visit.
Our telehealth program
At Headquarters, we offer remote baseline testing options for families who cannot access our in-person locations. Our telehealth protocol includes supervised cognitive testing, smartphone-based balance assessment, and symptom inventory — with clear referral pathways for components that require in-person evaluation. Contact us to learn about our telehealth baseline services. See the related piece on smartphone-based tools.