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Clinical
Programs Yale's Department of Neurosurgery continues a long and distinguished tradition that began early in the 20th century when one of the nation's first combined surgical-neurosurgical training programs was established. Today, its legacy is a vital collaborative enterprise where exemplary patient care, rigorous basic research and leading edge technology converge in a challenging academic environment to create a world-class referral center for neurological diseases. World-renowned clinical specialists armed with the finest technical resources care for patients with disorders of the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves. The Department's full-time faculty of seven clinical neurosurgeons and three neuropsychologists currently focus on surgery for medically intractable epilepsy, surgery and adjuvant treatment of brain tumors, stroke management and the surgical treatment of aneurysms and vascular malformations, pediatric neurosurgery including craniofacial reconstruction, peripheral nerve, neuro-trauma, structural spine and spinal cord problems, cognitive disorders, neuroendocrine tumors, movement disorders (particularly Parkinson's disease), pain and stereotactic radiosurgery utilizing the Gamma Knife. Resources at Yale-New Haven Hospital include a 10-bed neuro intensive care unit, two operating suites equipped with computerized electrophysiology, cortical stimulation and frameless stereotaxy, specifically for neurosurgical procedures, a six-bed adult epilepsy monitoring unit, and a two-bed children's epilepsy monitoring unit. State of the art imaging technology such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and functional MRI (fMRI), PET, and SPECT scans provide surgeons with the critical anatomical and functional information they need to determine the best treatment for each patient. Each patient entrusted to the care of clinicians in Yale's Department of Neurosurgery is evaluated by a highly skilled, multi-disciplinary team that might include neurosurgeons, neurologists, neuroradiologists, neuropsychologists, pediatric specialists, critical care nurses, social workers and other support personnel. Clinical care coordinators help the patient navigate through various phases of the diagnostic and treatment process. Coordinators and physicians discuss each aspect of care with the patient and ensure that referring physicians are kept updated on each phase of treatment. Patients with the rarest kinds of neurological disease as well as those with more common disorders benefit from the insight and expertise of specialists who collectively have treated thousands of patients with very complex nervous system problems. The health care team continuously challenges current practice to ensure their programs reflect the most advanced treatment options delivered in a way that enhances the well being and comfort of patients. The approach is personal, the support is multi-dimensional; the resources are unexcelled in the Northeast.
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