The North American Spine Institute has developed a science/research based training program designed to provide the essential knowledge to all healthcare providers on how to treat whiplash and whiplash related disorders. 

This is one of the only whiplash educational programs in the world that primarily focuses on the treatment of whiplash by using a multidisciplinary approach to care.  This program will teach the healthcare professional about whiplash, whiplash biomechanics, occupant kinematics, crash forensics, medicolegal aspects of care, and treatment options (chiropractic, physical therapy/physiotherapy, acupuncture, massage therapy, and medicine). 

This program is also available through the mail. These classes will count toward credit of obtaining Certificate status with the NASI, but you will not be able to receive CE credit. 

Seminar Registration Form (coming soon) 

Whiplash Module 1: Basic Concepts in Whiplash and Whiplash Associated Brain Injury and Chronic Pain :      

This module is concerned with the basic concepts of whiplash that allow us to understand its mechanism of injury better so that we can provide more individualized treatment plans.

This module will cover the following topics:

• History
• Epidemiology
• Anatomy
• Guidelines    
• Pain
• Pathophysiology
• Grading Scales
• Biomechanics
• Kinematics
• Relevant Terminology
• Common Syndromes associated with Whiplash

Whiplash Module 2: Health Professional Management of Whiplash :

This module is concerned with the treatment options that are available to patients suffering from whiplash.

This module will cover the following topics:

• Chiropractic
• Nutrition
• Physical Therapy
• Acupuncture
• Massage Therapy
• Medicine
• Complimentary Care

Whiplash Module 3: Record Keeping and Narrative Report Writing :

This module is concerned with the examination and record keeping for patients.

This module will cover the following topics:

• History and Examination
• New Patient Forms
• Self Assessment Questionnaires
• Insurance Forms
• Whiplash Patient Reports
• Letters for Payment
• IME Reports
• Medical Shorthand
• Coding

Whiplash Module 4: Medicolegal Concepts, Crash Forensics, Depositions, Arbitrations, and Court Room Testimony:

This module will cover the following topics:

• Crash Forensics
• Accident Reconstruction
• Medicolegal concepts       (Risk Factors)

Whiplash Module 5: Special Tests / Imaging and Whiplash, Chronic Pain and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Research:

Dr. Jason Mazzarella, DC, FIAMA, MVC-FRA, CBIS, CK, BSc Kin, BSc HPA

Dr. Mazzarella is the director of the North American Spine Institute.  He has been actively engaged in whiplash and pain management treatment, education and research his entire career, and is currently the sole developer and lecture of an international recognized Whiplash Traumatology and Treatment Seminar Series (www.NASI-MED.com) that includes state of the art information regarding pain process and management, crash forensics, occupant kinematics, clinical trauma case management/treatment, documentation, special testing, mild traumatic brain injury, biomechanics/kinematics and research. 

Dr. Mazzarella’s extensive training in the filed of whiplash and pain treatment, assessment and education has resulted in several pain management organizations including the National Pain Foundation, North American Chronic Pain Association, Canadian Pain Coalition, Canadian Pain Society, Pain.com, and Hospitals World Wide to list Dr. Mazzarella as a pain management provider.

Clinically Dr. Mazzarella owns and operates an international treatment and assessment center located in Pennsylvania – USA and Ontario – Canada.  Academically, Dr. Mazzarella teaches post graduate CE whiplash courses to healthcare professionals throughout North America.   For more information about Dr. Mazzarella’s clinical and academic background please refer to the North American Spine Institute’s website at www.NASI-MED.com. 

Pain Management Treatment Options and Research

May 27, 2010

Pain is subjective and can vary from person to person.  Current research shows that 90% of chronic pain can be effectively treated due to advancements made in the pain management filed.  This seminar will cover key concepts in pain associated with motor vehicle accidents, provide insight on possible treatment recommendations for your patients and cover current research topics in the pain management filed. Advancing your knowledge of pain processes and pathways will not only help to improve patient outcomes post injury, but can help to reduce chronicity of symptoms post MVA.  This course will provide the essential knowledge to help advance your personal injury and pain management practice. 

Whiplash Injury: Guidelines and Rebuttal/IME Report Writing:

September 21, 2010

Whiplash and whiplash associated disorders have become an epidemic in North America.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Institute reports that there were 2,491,000 motor vehicle injuries in 2007.  Research states that of these injured 52% will develop chronic pain.  This seminar is designed to provide chiropractors with a basic introduction into whiplash guidelines and will touch base on the pros and cons of these currently recognized professional guidelines.  This seminar will also discuss rebuttal report writing and Independent Examinations report writing covering such topics as report set up, information to include/not include and how to get your point across professionally and scientifically.  Advancing your knowledge of whiplash, peer reviewed risk factors and appropriate guideline usage will not only help to improve patient outcomes post injury, but can aide in insurance reimbursement as well.  This course will provide the essential knowledge to help advance your personal injury practice. 

NASI Credentialing

The NASI is one of only a few organizations able to offer an interdisciplinary post-graduate designation of academic achievement in whiplash. The credentialing process provides recognition to graduates for achieving a high level of education in the field of whiplash. Currently, the NASI offers two levels of credentialing.

NASI Certificate

The NASI Certificate is the first level of educational distinction offered by the North American Spine Institute (NASI). Certificate holders of the NASI are professionals who apply the latest scientific knowledge and research into diagnosing and treating patients who have suffered whiplash injuries, with the primary goal of improved function and decreased pain in the shortest possible time.

NASI graduates conduct whiplash specific testing, design and implement safe and effective rehabilitation programs and provide guidance on subjects such as prevention, proper body mechanics, nutrition, and at home care.

To receive a Certificate from the NASI, the Chiropractor, Medical Doctor, Osteopathic Doctor, Physical Therapists, or Physician Assistant will need to meet 3 requirements.

1.       Complete the five module seminar series

2.       Complete and pass a comprehensive examination 

3.       Provide the NASI with proof of licensure.

NASI Advanced Certificate

The highest level of educational distinction offered by the NASI is an Advanced Certificate. The Advanced Certificate level of obtainment from the NASI encourages a higher level of competence among healthcare providers and raises the quality of care to the patients.

To receive an Advanced Certificate from the NASI, the Chiropractor, Medical Doctor, Osteopathic Doctor, Physical Therapists, or Physician Assistant must meet 3 requirements.

1.       Hold Certificate status with the NASI

2.       Submit 30 case studies for review by the NASI

3.       Have submitted case studies approved by the NASI.

The North American Spine Institute is committed to providing quality whiplash education. The goal of the NASI is to provide a unique, affordable, research based continuing education opportunity for Chiropractors, Medical Physicians, Physical Therapists, Osteopathic Physicians, and Physician Assistants. Emphasis is placed upon providing a multidisciplinary approach to care for patients suffering from whiplash and whiplash related disorders.

These educational opportunities will also promote a professional interaction between the Chiropractors, Medical Physicians, Physical Therapists, Osteopathic Physicians, and Physician Assistants, thus helping to promote and encourage interpersonal and professional growth and development between healthcare professions

The NASI whiplash educational seminar series was developed to present all healthcare providers in North American the opportunity to take part in a seminar series that specifically dealt with whiplash, whiplash mechanisms of injury, and a multidisciplinary approach to care, with all information being reinforced by peer reviewed literature.  Whiplash since the beginning of the 1990’s has developed into an epidemic that continues to be poorly understood in regards to treatment and probability of injury.  

Economical problem – Approximately 3 million Americans suffer whiplash type injuries each year.  These whiplash injuries cost the United States economy billions of dollars per year.  These poor outcomes can somewhat be attributed to poor understanding of whiplash, the biomechanics of injury, occupant kinematics and risk factors associated with the patient.  This can lead to development of chronic pain in over 50% of motor vehicle accident victims according to the research.

The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) estimates the true social cost of chronic pain to be equivalent to that of cancer or cardiovascular disease Chronic pain cost the United States economy approximately $ 60 Billion dollars per year in healthcare costs and lost productivity.  As our population ages and the incidence of chronic pain in the general population rises as projected, the costs will increase dramatically.

Dr. Mazzarella director of the NASI has designed a cutting edge educational program on whiplash.  Every scientific slide presented during the seminar will be backed by either a peer reviewed journal article or medical text book. 

In addition, due to the nature of whiplash (soft tissue injury) and the corresponding lack of radiographic/imaging evidence many of these cases have the potential to be litigated.  Thus, Dr. Mazzarella will provide you with information about depositions, arbitrations, and testifying in court.  This will help to provide you with the forensic skills needed to present objective, up-to-date factual information about whiplash injuries, injury mechanics, and research. 

-       Moulin, Clark, Speechley, Morley-Forster, “Chronic Pain in Canada”, Pain and Research Management 2002

-       International Association for the Study of Pain, Breivik H, Ventafridda V., Collett B., The Pain in Europe Survey, detailed results and analysis, Euro J Pain 2004

NASI Education Goal

Through education of its members, healthcare professionals, and the general population, the NASI can help to improve the quality of whiplash care.

NASI Education Emphasis

The NASI continuing education programs emphasize whiplash treatment, whiplash biomechanics, whiplash risk factors, whiplash injury mechanisms, occupant kinematics, crash forensics, medicolegal aspects, paper work, and research.

Payment Options:

We currently accepted personal and business checks.  If you are submitting a check, please make the check payable to: Dr. Jason Mazzarella.  After receipt of your check, you will be sent an electronic invoice.  All seminar funds are in US currency.  All other funds are location dependent (where the seminar is held) US (US currency) and Canada (Canadian Currency).  All seminar registration is required to occur 60 days prior to the seminar start date.  No registration will occur /be allowed after this 60 day mark has passed. 

* Faculty Members of National University of Health Sciences and the University of Buffalo School of Medicine and   

     Biomedical Sciences.

North American Spine Institute

Mailing Address:

USA:                                                                Canada:

Dr. Jason Mazzarella, DC                                   Dr. Jason Mazzarella

341 Myers Street                                               28 Finch Avenue West, Suite 212           

Ebensburg, Pennsylvania 15931                          Toronto, Ontario M2N 2G7

*  If your professional organization is listed, then you are eligible for the discounted rate. 

If you are a member of an organization that is not listed above and would like them to be, please contact your organization and voice your request.  Thank you.

* The seminar group fee is only available if all 5 modules are paid for in advance prior to starting the program.