Focus Area 2: Neurological Care
Wellness & Prevention
Healthcare education is one of the most vital community benefit services Lancaster General provides. Many people, for instance, think leg pain is a sign of aging. The result is delayed care for illnesses that could have been prevented.
To promote early detection and prevention, Lancaster General offers Legs for Life, a national program that provides free vascular screenings for local seniors and at-risk individuals. The neuro team offers free screenings for those at risk for falls. They also promote awareness on tests and treatments for memory disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease.
We’re helping children, too. Trauma is the leading cause of death for teenagers. Think First® of Lancaster County is an injury-prevention program offered by Lancaster General trauma- neurosurgical nurses to educate teens about unnecessary head and spine injuries. The program is offered free of charge to school districts in the region.
Pictured above: Joan Stahl, who suffered the effects of a head injury after being struck by a car, receives occupational therapy from Carrie Donovan, COTA/L.
Diagnosis & Treatment
Neurological impairment can affect the entire body and often requires advanced diagnosis and treatment. The Lancaster General Neuro Center provides state-of-the-art care, including non-invasive treatment of certain brain tumors and artery disorders. Specialty programs include:
Dizziness and Balance Program – Helps patients eliminate, compensate or adapt to central or peripheral inner ear dysfunctions/balance problems.
Memory Disorders Program – Uses a centralized approach to provide complete diagnostic and treatment services with social work, neuropsychology, and neurologist or geriatrician evaluations.
Stroke Center and F.A.S.T. Track Neurological Day Treatment Program – Offer comprehensive physical, occupational and speech therapy, plus neuropsychology and nursing services for patients with stroke, brain injury or other disorders. Lancaster General Hospital recently received Primary Stroke Center certification from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), and earned its Gold Seal of Approval for exceeding national standards. Programs that follow these standards routinely achieve better outcomes for stroke patients.
Recovery & Support
Sharing resources with other healthcare providers helps us better serve the patients of both. Lancaster General collaborates with several partners, including Ephrata Community Hospital, to offer a Stroke Survivors Support Group for patients and families. Guest speakers discuss available resources, financial issues and the latest technological advancements to improve the lives of stroke victims. Additionally, Lancaster General partners with the American Stroke Association at the Strike Back at Stroke event, supporting education about stroke prevention, treatment and recovery. This annual event recognizes stroke victims who have faced the test of human spirit with hope and courage and the caregivers who have provided strength and encouragement during the stroke recovery process.
Help for families and friends caring for a loved one with dementia is offered through a monthly Memory Loss Support Group. And a Brain Tumor Community Group is available for anyone who has been diagnosed with a brain tumor or has been affected by someone with brain cancer.
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Multiple solutions for complex care, delivered in a way that patients and families can understand. This is the very definition of Lancaster General’s approach.
Pictured: Eileen Rzecinski receives aquatic therapy from Connie Witmer, Physical Therapy Assistant, at Lancaster General Health Campus. |