Medically Advanced Care for Comprehensive Neurological Conditions
VCU Health offers a highly-individualized approach for adult and pediatric patients with both common and complex neurological conditions, including:
- ALS and other neuromuscular diseases
- Alzheimer’s disease and other memory disorders
- Brain tumors and other cancers
- Epilepsy and other seizure disorders
- Migraines and other headache disorders
- Multiple Sclerosis and other central nervous system disorders
- Neuro-ophthalmology issues
- Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders
- Sleep issues
- Spinal cord injuries
- Stroke and other cerebrovascular issues
- Traumatic brain injuries
Last year, we treated more than 25,000 patients with neurological disorders, providing innovative breakthroughs to improve their quality of life.
In addition, our collaborative research in the area of neurosciences topped $27 million last year, ranking 32nd out of nearly 800 institutions nationally for National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding.
Multidisciplinary Clinics Offer a Team Approach
Our skilled neurological specialists provide complete diagnostic evaluations as well as a broad range of the most advanced surgical procedures, including intracranial electrodes and brain mapping. Neuropsychologists perform comprehensive neuropsychological assessments, which play a major role in assessing cognitive risks in patients being considered for epilepsy surgery.
The entire team of neurology specialists provide expert medical skill, but also empathy as we treat the whole patient, not just individual neurological conditions. The real benefit of multidisciplinary care at the Department of Neurology is that the patient can get the opinion of a group of highly-trained specialists and feel more confident that they have explored every available option for the best care.
It is our mission to not only provide the highest level of neurological care, but also limit the physical and emotional burden of neurological conditions. Our neurology clinics provide comprehensive care, bringing together experts from the following fields to evaluate patients:
- Neurology
- Neuropsychology
- Physical Therapy
- Social Work
- Dietary therapy
- Respiratory therapy
Innovations in Parkinson’s Disease Treatment
Almost a million Americans live with Parkinson's disease with 60,000 more diagnosed each year. Those staggering numbers inspire specialists in the Department of Neurology to lead the way in developing innovative and groundbreaking strategies for diagnosis and treatment. At our Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Center, we combine the latest advancements in medical research, clinical evaluation and innovative treatment with education and outreach in a coordinated, comprehensive approach. Our teams are able to move groundbreaking scientific research from novel approaches in the lab to clinical trials, translating these leading-edge discoveries into real-world treatments.
Deep Brain Tissue Stimulation to Better Manage Symptoms
Our experts offer new technologies and opportunities for patients through deep brain stimulation. This surgical intervention is used to treat movement disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, when medications and various rehabilitation strategies become less effective in managing symptoms.
Investigation of New Diagnostic Tool for Parkinson’s Disease
With a grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, our schools of Medicine and Engineering are advancing care for Parkinson’s disease. Our teams are testing a new diagnostic tool for Parkinson’s disease using an infrared eye scanning device that could detect the condition up to 10 years before symptoms appear.
Level 1 Trauma Care
VCU Medical Center is the only comprehensive Level I adult, pediatric and burn trauma center in the region, providing a very high level of expertise for comprehensive neurological conditions affecting adults and children. This means that primary or acute care providers send or refer patients to VCU Medical Center for a more advanced level of care. As a leader in trauma care, our specialists are able to provide total care for every aspect of injury.
Pediatric Neurology Excellence at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU
Our skilled pediatric neurologists provide excellent care for children of all ages at our dedicated children’s hospital. The neurology services at Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU include comprehensive care for a wide range of pediatric neurological diseases and conditions.
Regional Awards and National Recognition
- VCU Medical Center is recognized as high performing for neurology by U.S. News & World Report for 2019-20.
- 2020 American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Gold Plus-Stroke (for performance measures) and Target Stroke
Honor Roll Elite Plus recognition (for IV-TPA). - AASM accredited sleep center
- ALSA sponsored clinic
- EMG laboratory accredited by the AANEM
- Epilepsy Monitoring Center – Level 4 accreditation by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers
- Huntington’s Disease Center of Excellence
- The Joint Commission certified Comprehensive Stroke Center
- MDA sponsored clinic
- Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence
Advancements in Clinical Trials
The Department of Neurology has a very active clinical research program with ongoing clinical trials in Parkinson’s disease, Stroke, Epilepsy and Multiple Sclerosis. Our basic science laboratories are helping to advance the understanding into neurodegenerative disease, multiple sclerosis and epilepsy, which will lead the way towards innovative translational research in the future.