Treatments

Brain and Spine
Stroke
Spinal Surgery
Multiple Sclerosis
Headache

Brain and Spine
For treatment of tumors of the brain and spine, our team of neurosurgeons has access to Novalis® Shaped Beam Surgery™, the most advanced approach to stereotactic radiosurgery and radiotherapy available today. Virtually painless and usually performed on an outpatient basis. Novalis Shaped Beam Surgery allows for non-invasive delivery of a precise dose of high-energy radiation; enabling our physicians to treat tumors in areas that previously could only be approached by disabling radical surgery or in patients where no standard therapy offered any chance of long-term success. With Novalis Shaped Beam Surgery, radiation beams are shaped to match the exact contour of the tumor. Even tiny, irregularly shaped tumors and lesions can be treated very precisely, protecting most of the surrounding, healthy tissue.

Stroke
Utilizing the American Stroke Association guidelines for treatment, Baptist Hospital has developed a comprehensive system for rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients admitted to the emergency department. State-of-the-art diagnostic equipment is available 24/7 to provide brain imaging scans, that enable our staff of nationally-renowned neurologists, to conduct the highest level of patient evaluations and utilize clot-busting medications when appropriate. Baptist Hospital is the only hospital in the state to earn the American Stroke Association's Gold Achievement Award, our treatments include aggressive use of medications like tPA, antithrombotics, anticoagulation therapy, DVT prophylaxis, cholesterol-reducing drugs, and smoking cessation.

Baptist Hospital has earned the Joint Commission Primary Stroke Center Certification. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 15,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation's predominant standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Since 1951, The Joint Commission has maintained state-of-the-art standards that focus on improving the quality and safety of care provided by health care organizations.

Spinal Surgery
Ranked among the top five facilities nation-wide for spinal surgeries, our team utilizes state-of-the-art technologies in the treatment of spinal diseases and injuries such as tumors, herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, arthritis of the spine and vascular malformations. With access to minimally invasive surgery technologies and computer-aided imaging, our team is able to achieve improved outcomes for procedures ranging from simple lumbar discectomy to elaborate fusion procedures.

Multiple Sclerosis
While we don't yet have a cure for MS, we do have treatments, therapies and strategies available that can slow the course of the disease, treat the exacerbations or flare-ups, manage the many of the symptoms, and improve functionality and quality of life.

Some of the available treatment options include:

• Medications to Treat MS:
  • Beta Interferons
  • Glatiramer
• Medications That Treat MS Symptoms:
  • Corticosteroids
  • Muscle Relaxants
  • Medications to Reduce Fatigue
  • Medications for associated symptoms such as pain, bladder or bowel control and depression.
• Rehabilitation programs include:
  • Physical Therapy
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Therapy for Speech and Swallowing Problems
  • Cognitive Rehabilitation
  • Vocational Rehabilitation

Headache
Chronic, debilitating pain in the head or face can limit your ability to perform daily activities and dramatically reduce your quality of life. Though headaches are among the most common reasons for seeking medical treatment, the cause and type of headaches – and their treatment – can vary dramatically. To determine the most effective treatment, our multidisciplinary team of specialists from the fields of pain medicine, neurology, anesthesiology, and internal medicine provides an individual, patient-centered approach to properly identify the factors involved. Utilizing the most advanced diagnostic and treatment therapies available, our team is able to ensure that each patient suffering from complex headache disorders receives the most effective treatments available.