THE NEUROSCIENCE INSTITUTE OF NEW YORK HOSPITAL QUEENS

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1 THE NEUROSCIENCE INSTITUTE OF NEW YORK HOSPITAL QUEENS PROVIDING A HIGHER LEVEL OF COMPREHENSIVE CARE OF THE BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM. RIGHT HERE. IN QUEENS. The Neuroscience Institute is The Center for Developmental Disabilities The Comprehensive Epilepsy Center Stroke Service Multiple Sclerosis Center Neuromuscular/Spine Center

2 The Neuroscience Institute of NYHQ Providing Comprehensive Care of the Brain and Nervous System Neurology is a medical specialty concerned with the nervous system s function and its disorders. Neurologists diagnose and treat diseases and disorders of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. Conditions treated at the Institute include degenerative illnesses such as Alzheimer s disease, Parkinson disease, stroke, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injuries, neuromuscular illnesses, headaches and low back pain. All of the Institute s Neurologists are Board Certified and have acquired additional expertise through extensive fellowship training in one or more of these conditions. Edward Chai, M.D. Edward Chai, M.D., Director of Neurology and Stroke Services, serves as the Institute s director. Dr. Chai is a board-certified neurologist and psychiatrist as well as fellowship trained in Parkinson disease and movement disorders. Dr. Chai, his team of highly trained neurologists and our support staff of nurses, nurse practitioners and social workers provide access to state of the art neurologic care right here in Queens. The Center for Developmental Disabilities The goal of the Institute s Center for Developmental Disabilities is to provide effective and compassionate medical management to people with developmental disabilities. The Center is one of the few hospital-supported primary care facilities for individuals with developmental disabilities of its kind in the U.S., and one of the only such centers in Queens. The Center s staff is trained in meeting the special needs of the developmentally disabled, including individuals with mental retardation, autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, traumatic brain injury and other disorders. The Center s director, Sebastian Avolese, M.D., has been committed to the care of this special population since Sebastian Avolese, M.D. Clinical services offered at the Center include dentistry, ophthalmology, podiatry, psychiatry, epilepsy, neurology, urology, and gynecology, most of which are located on site. The Neuroscience Institute is comprised of the following centers and each may be reached through the hospital s main number , or directly at these numbers: The Center for Developmental Disabilities (718) The Comprehensive Epilepsy Center (718) Stroke Service (718) Multiple Sclerosis Center (718) Neuromuscular/Spine Center (718)

3 The Comprehensive Epilepsy Center Seizures are a disturbance in brain electrical activity. If the condition is recurrent, it is known as seizure disorder or epilepsy. Children and adults are both affected and according to the Epilepsy Foundation, 10 percent of the U.S. population will experience a seizure once in their lifetime. Three percent will develop seizure disorder or epilepsy by age 75. Approximately 83,000 people in New York City suffer from seizure disorder or epilepsy. More than one quarter of these patients reside in Queens. Seizure disorder in children is usually caused by a condition that is present at birth. Severe head injury is the most common cause of epilepsy in young adults. In older individuals and the elderly, strokes, tumors, and degenerative illnesses such as Alzheimer s disease are more common causes. The goal of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center at NYHQ is to help people with epilepsy to control their seizures and lead a better quality of life. Hind Kettani M.D., and Reza Zarnegar, D.O., lead the team. Hind Kettani, M.D. Both of these attending neurologists in the Department of Medicine are experts in the medical management of epilepsy and conduct research in new treatments for intractable or uncontrolled epilepsy. The Center uses a team approach to patient care, with an expert panel of specialized physicians, neurologists, neurosurgeons and psychiatrists, Reza Zarnegar, D.O. specially trained nurses and skilled social workers. There is state-of-the-art equipment for diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of the disorder, including video EEG monitoring. Stroke Care Service Strokes or cerebral vascular accidents are injuries to the brain caused by a blockage or rupture of a blood vessel. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this is the fourth leading cause of death and the number one cause of permanent disability in the United States. NYHQ is a New York State-Designated Level 1 Regional Stroke Center, which means that the hospital has an acute stroke care team so that the highest quality of care and the most rapid response can be delivered to acute stroke victims including certain medications. For victims of a stroke, there is a very limited window of time in which a medication (called TPA) can be administered that may limit the damage being caused by progression of the stroke. This time period is known as the golden hours. The acute Stroke Care team, led by Edward Chai, M.D., Director of Neurology and Stroke Services, includes neurologists, emergency physicians, physician assistants, nurses, neuro-radiologists and neurosurgeons. The combined knowledge and expertise of the team results in rapid diagnosis and treatment, increasing the potential for the best possible outcome. Stroke recovery and prevention are initiated as early as possible in the patient s course of care. Vascular surgeons, cardiologists, physical therapists, speech therapists, and occupational therapists as well as psychiatric social experts guide the patient to maximize restoration of cognitive and physical function. 3 4

4 The Multiple Sclerosis Center Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a lifelong and potentially debilitating nervous system disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. It damages the myelin sheath, the material that surrounds and protects nerve cells. MS is an autoimmune disease that is significantly linked to an individual s genetic makeup. The precise cause of MS, however, is not known. The symptoms of MS vary, although the most common are visual disturbances, muscle weakness, trouble with coordination and balance, sensations such as numbness, prickling, or pins and needles, as well as thinking and memory problems. It is estimated that there are over 400,000 U.S. residents with MS. It affects women more than men and symptoms typically begin between the ages of 20 and 40. The disease itself runs a highly variable and unpredictable course, and though there is no cure for MS, there are many therapeutic alternatives to treat the symptoms and the underlying disease. Physical and occupational therapy are also helpful treatment options. In New York City, approximately 9,000 people with MS have reported they have the illness and registered with the NYC chapter of the National MS Society. The Multiple Sclerosis Center at the Neuroscience Institute, directed by David Snyder, M.D., has been in operation since 1987 and is the only center in Queens supported by the New York City Chapter of the MS Society. In addition to neurologists, the MS Center includes a specially trained team of nurses and social workers who have extensive experience with patients David Snyder, M.D. and families affected by MS. The goal of the Center is to diagnose and treat patients with MS and to help them improve their function. Since the disease can affect different neurological functions, a variety of specialists participate in the treatment of patients including urologists, psychiatrists, occupational and physical therapy rehabilitation specialists and social workers. Neuromuscular/Spine Center The diagnosis of neuromuscular and spine disorders is a highly technical process. Dr. Suja Johnkutty and Dr. Reza Zarnegar, who are fellowship trained in neuromuscular disease, conduct sophisticated testing, including EMG (electromyography), to establish a diagnosis and offer recommendations for treatment options. Dr. Johnkutty also specializes in the treatment of headaches and is board-certified in headache medicine. She is a part of the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties. Suja Johnkutty, M.D. The Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery at NYHQ, under the direction of Jaime H. Nieto, M.D., offers a full range of services to evaluate, diagnose, and treat spine and back problems, including low back and leg pain, and herniated discs. Life-threatening traumatic spine injury and tumors are also treated. The goal for each patient is to maximize function, minimize suffering, Jaime H. Nieto, M.D. and improve quality of life. Surgery is only performed after conservative treatments, such as physical therapy and pain management, have been tried. Whenever possible, minimally invasive procedures are used as these can lead to faster recovery time and less disruption in patients lives. The neuro-surgical facilities at NYHQ utilize advanced technology including 3D intra-operative X-Ray and intra-operative spinal and cranial navigation providing immediate feedback during surgical interventions. Dr. Reza Zarnegar is fellowship trained in intra-operative monitoring and provides real-time expert consultation in the operating room for complex cases. Murisiku Raifu, M.D. Neurosurgery is also done on an emergency basis, usually as a result of a car or other type of traumatic accident. Traumatic injury patients are in very good hands here as NYHQ is a Level 1 trauma center. The Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation has full-time trauma specialists who work with the neurosurgeons as needed. 5 6

5 The Neuroscience Institute Outpatient Center th Street Fresh Meadows, NY (718) New York Hospital Queens is a member of the NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System and is affiliated with Weill Medical College of Cornell University. It is the largest voluntary medical center in a borough of more than 2.5 million people. NYHQ offers the services of a medical staff of more than 1,600 employed and/or affiliated physicians, dentists and podiatrists. In 2010, NYHQ had over 35,000 inpatient admissions, 139,000 outpatient visits and 115,000 emergency department visits marked the opening of the new seven-floor West Building. The new building added over 190,000 square feet and 80 patient beds bringing the hospital s certified bed count to 519. New medical/surgical units were added with private and semi-private rooms. NYHQ s prominent and busy cardiovascular and orthopaedic services operate with greater efficiency through centralization of care. With the increased capacity, the hospital s surgical and interventional procedures are performed with ease in unique hybrid operating suites that can accommodate a wide variety of endovascular, vascular and interventional radiology procedures. New York Hospital Queens maintains world-class specialty care centers and clinics throughout the borough of Queens. The Theresa & Eugene M. Lang Center for Research and Education takes an active role in advancing individual patient care and community health. With 120 ongoing research protocols, the Center s work is funded through NIH grants as well as industry and foundation sources. Clinical investigations involve nearly all specialties including hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, HIV/AIDS, cancer, heart failure, radiation oncology, pediatrics and obstetrics. New York Hospital Queens is an important teaching center and maintains accredited residency programs in major specialties. It is the largest off-site teaching facility for Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Our graduate medical education program includes medical, surgical and dental residents hailing from all over the world. Many of them go on to join the hospital staff, establish a medical practice of their own in Queens or within the region, or continue their education by training in a specialty or another area of medicine. A special thanks to Jill and Joseph Levy of the Page and Otto Marx Foundation for their generous support to the Neuroscience Institute of New York Hospital Queens. 7