Plainview's New CIIT Center Treats Patients as 'Total Entities'

The Center for Integrative and Innovative Therapies, nestled in Plainview, employs an expert team of biomedical professionals, neurologists, neuropsychologists, nutritionists and other specialists to offer integrated, customized treatment programs.

Patch: What is The Center for Integrative & Innovative Therapies?

Gruttadauria: The CIIT Center, also known as The Center for Integrative and Innovative Therapies, is a medical facility that offers many different things. Traditional medical practices see a wide variety of health issues, but in America, approximately 70 percent of people are suffering from chronic illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, depression, autism, brain trauma, PTSD, ADD/ADHD, anxiety, autoimmunity and many more. These conditions have not been well addressed by mainstream medicine, and we feel that patients suffering from them deserve better. Based on the need for a new approach to chronic illness, we have created the CIIT Center. Of course, we will be a full service medical facility, but our focus will be on these chronic disorders.

Patch: The CIIT Center offers "a kaleidoscope" of advanced therapies. Tell us about the variety of treatments that the center offers.

Gruttadauria: Based on our clinical examinations, patients will be treated with a variety of treatments that include; integrative medicine, functional neurological rehabilitation, physical and occupational therapy, neurofeedback, IV therapies, chiropractic care, transcranial magnetic stimulation, sensory integration therapy, nutritional counseling, PEMF and more.

Patch: How does The CIIT Center set out to assist patients in reaching their individual potential?

Gruttadauria: Our goal is never to treat a diagnosis or a patient's symptoms. Based on our extensive evaluation process, we devise a plan to help our patients move toward optimal health. We educate patients on how their body works and how their condition affects their chemistry and nervous system. An educated patient is empowered to follow through on recommendations and take better care of themselves.

Patch: Tell us about The CIIT Center's comprehensive diagnostic testing.

Gruttadauria: All diagnosis begins with a thorough case history and physical and neurological examination. At that point, we can employ many diagnostic tests here in our facility to rule out other problems as well as help us identify potential treatment options. Examples of these tests include ultrasound (cardiac, abdominal, thyroid and transcranial), QEEG brain mapping, videonystagmography (VNG) and balance testing.

Patch: The CIIT Center's mission is to approach each patient as a "total entity." What does this mean, and how does the center accomplish this?

Gruttadauria: Patients are not a diagnosis. What I mean by that is when someone comes in for care and they have diabetes, for example, they are not a "diabetes case." They are a person with a history, a certain diet, different stressors and lifestyle habits all of which need to be evaluated. Once we can gather this information, we can devise a plan to help unwind the chemical imbalances that exist within their body that allowed for them to be sick in the first place. We have a multitude of different health care professionals and therapies all under one roof that can help that patient get closer to optimal health!

Patch: How is or how will the center be involved in the community?

Gruttadauria: In Latin, "doctor" actually means "teacher." Dr. Gruttadauria and Dr. Imam have been leaders in the health care community, lecturing to doctors nationwide on different aspects of clinical care. Now, they will bring their expertise to the local community by holding monthly lectures at the center on everything from autism, thyroid disease and concussion, dietary modification, to depression, back pain, migraines and ADHD. They feel that educated patients are empowered to take better care of themselves. They will record many of these presentations and put them out as webinars as well.

Patch: Dr. Michael Gruttadauria and Dr. Muneer Imam are the center's lead doctors. Tell us a little about their backgrounds.

Gruttadauria: Our Dr. Imam is a traditionally trained, multi-specialty medical physician who has adopted and created an integrative approach to treating his patients. Dr. Gruttadauria is a chiropractic neurologist who has been focused on patients with chronic health conditions for many years. Together, they believe that health is not the absence of sickness, but a state where the body is working optimally. This philosophy helps them create a path for the patients to follow from when they first arrive at the center with health problems to a point where they are much better and are in a position to take better care of themselves with lifestyle modifications and diet.

Patch: Why specialize in brain and biomedical conditions?

Gruttadauria: Your brain and biochemistry form the basis for how your body works and whether on not it is healthy. Our focus on these two areas allows us to see patients with many different kinds of problems. Health care has become so specialized, with a doctor focused on each system (cardiology, gastro, neurology, etc.). We strive to be the ultimate generalists, listening to our patients to understand what is happening and looking at the way their body works as a whole, not focused only on the main complaint.

Patch: How can Patch readers learn more about The Center for Integrative & Innovative Therapies?

Gruttadauria: Patch readers can find us on the web at www.TheCIITCenter.com, Facebook or call us at (516) 243-8660.

Photos courtesy of The Center for Integrative and Innovative Therapies (CIIT)