On February 23, 2015, the Penn Neuroscience Center officially opened, with the mission of providing a new level of specialty care for those suffering from or at risk for complex neurological disorders.
The outpatient facility joins together our neurology, neurosurgery, neurodiagnostics, neuropsychology and neuro-ophthalmology expertise and the neurologic and psychiatric services of the Penn Memory Center. All longtime partners in the care of patients with complex neurological diseases such as epilepsy, Parkinson's disease and MS; neurosurgical disorders of the spine, including congenital disease, arthritis-related disc problems and tumors of the spine and brain, including brain cancers, as well as neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, the Penn Neuroscience Center allows for enhanced collaboration, information-sharing and united front in caring for patients with these debilitating illnesses.
"The Penn Neuroscience Center was designed to create a unique, personalized patient experience" explains Frances E. Jensen, MD, chair of neurology. "In each treatment area, there may be a neurologist, a neurosurgeon, and a psychiatrist; as well as nurses and social workers. What this does is provide the patient with the kind of personalized medicine that is unmatched in the region."
What the center means to patients
The Penn Neuroscience Center was carefully planned with the best possible patient experience in mind. The new streamlined approach to neurological care does this by increasing access to comprehensive services and fully engaging patients and families in their care.
Located at 3400 Civic Center Boulevard on the 2nd floor of the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, the Center consists of 56 exam rooms and 16 dedicated rooms for neurodiagnostic and psychiatric testing in the following areas:
- Neurosurgery
- Neuro-ophthalmology
- Neurology
- Penn Memory Center
- Neuropsychology
- Psychiatry
- Neurodiagnostics (EEG, EMG, NVL)
"We truly care about our patients and how the disease impacts all aspects of your life. This Center has brought us together to provide the kind of personalized care that people want and deserve," says M. Sean Grady, MD, chair of neurosurgery.
Oftentimes, neurosurgeons and neurologists work together in order to provide the best possible patient care. Many conditions can be treated without surgery, with a treatment plan (usually involving medication) put together and monitored by a neurologist. If medical intervention fails or is not acceptable for the condition, the neurologist will request the assistance of a neurosurgeon to evaluate the potential for a surgical treatment. Problems that are structural in nature may respond best to neurosurgical intervention. While there is a good deal of overlap between all neurological specialists in a clinical setting, there are some key differences, described below:
What is a neurologist?
Neurologists focus on disorders of the nervous system, brain, spinal cord, nerves, muscles and pain. Common neurological disorders include: stroke, Alzheimer's disease, headache, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, sleep disorders, multiple sclerosis, pain, tremor, brain and spinal cord injuries, brain tumors, peripheral nervous disorders and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
What is a neurosurgeon?
A neurosurgeon diagnoses and treats patients with injury to or diseases of, the brain, spine or peripheral nerves. A neurosurgeon may provide either surgical or non-surgical care depending on the nature of the injury or illness.
Interested in scheduling an appointment? Call 800-789-7366 (PENN).