Neurosciences

Overview

One of "America's Best Hospitals" When it comes time to evaluate a neurosciences program, you're probably going to have questions about the quality of care. It's good to know that Ingalls has been named one of "America's Best Hospitals" by U.S. News and World Report, for six years in a row in their annual "Best Hospitals" edition.

Ingalls Memorial Hospital ranked 36th in the nation for excellence in neurology and neurosurgery. Ingalls was the only community hospital in the area and one of only a few in the country to receive the distinction, usually reserved for large university-affiliated or big-city hospitals such as Memorial Sloan-Kettering, Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic.

Neurosciences
• National ranking
   Ingalls Memorial Hospital is the only community
   hospital in the area and one of only a few
   in the country to be named one of "America's Best
   Hospitals" in the 13th annual edition of U.S. News
   and World Report - a distinction usually reserved for
   large university hospitals.

• Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch
  (CINN)
    Many of the neurosurgeons on staff at Ingalls are
   members of CINN, one of the largest and most
   actively practicing neurosurgery practices in the
   country.

• Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS)
   Ingalls became one of the only hospitals in Illinois to
   offer this alternative treatment for epileptics who are
   unable to control seizures effectively with drug
   treatment or surgery.

• The Ingalls Spine Center
   This specialty center offers the full range of treatment
   for all types of spine ailments.

• Neurophysiology labs
   Ingalls is home to one of only two accredited
   neurophysiology labs in the Chicago area that
   provides testing and treatment of neurological
   disorders.

• Comprehensive care
   Ingalls is one of the only hospitals in the South
   Suburbs to offer such a full range of care including
   stroke intervention and management; radiosurgery,
   a brain tumor program; state-of- the-art technology;
   a sleep center; research; a dedicated operating
   room; nursing and rehabilitation support; dedicated
   patient care units; expansive sub-specialty surgical
   skills; evaluation and treatment of epilepsy as well as
   disorders of movement, cognition and sleep.

• Cutting-edge research
   Ingalls Spine Center is involved in research
   opportunities for our patients called
   investigational device exemptions (IDE)
    - clinical trials that use a device instead of a drug.
   Patients interested in participating can call 800-221-
   2199 for more information.

Our specializations

Ingalls Spine Center
The Ingalls Spine Center is dedicated to patients with all types of spine ailments. The center brings together board-certified orthopedic spine surgeons and neurosurgeons with spine fellowship training, physiatrists, anesthesiologists, neurophysiologists and other health professionals who continually focus on new and better ways to restore patients' health and abilities. These are some of our areas of specialty:

• Clinical research
   Our spine surgeons participate in the development of
   some of the newer spinal implants and biologics. Read
   more about patient opportunities through the latest
   technology in Clinical Trials.

• Conservative treatment techniques
   Whenever possible, the anesthesiologists and
   physiatrists at Ingalls Spine Center rely on non-
   invasive and minimally-invasive approaches to relieve
   back and neck pain. Some of the most progressive
   non-surgical treatment options available today are
   offered through Ingalls Spine Center and each
   treatment plan is individualized for the patient.

Our outpatient physical and occupational therapy is available in many locations including Ingalls Family Care Centers in Tinley Park, ICOR in Calumet City, the Wellness Center in Homewood and in the patient's home. Other conservative treatment options include injection therapies, nucleoplasty, behavioral medicine and percutaneous neuromodulation therapy (PNT), a recently FDA approved therapy to deliver electrical stimulation directly to the deep tissues near the spine in order to reach the nerve pathways that can affect pain.

• Inpatient experience
   The Ingalls Spine Center offers a dedicated unit, staff
   of nurses, health professionals and management.
   Through the latest technology, our team is able to
   provide the best care available all the way through
   rehabilitation. The following are some examples of the
   advanced inpatient care provided to patients:

- Intra-operative monitoring - Ingalls was one of the first
   hospitals in the Chicago area to develop this
   comprehensive program to enhance patient safety by
   monitoring neural activity during surgery to prevent
   injury

- Pre-surgical educational sessions - Our spine patients
   attend an educational session before they are
   admitted which enables them to ask questions,
   practice exercises and learn about equipment that
   they may utilize during recuperation

• Surgical treatment options
   The Spine Center offers state-of-the-art surgical
   treatments for a full range of spine disorders including
   degenerative conditions, spinal cord tumors,
   osteoporosis and back and neck pain. Minimally-
   invasive techniques such as lumbar fusion,
   kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty reduce risks
   associated with treatment and eliminate painful
   symptoms. Microsurgery and complex surgery
   procedures provided through the Spine Center
   offer patients the most advanced treatment options
   available anywhere.

• Complementary medicine
   In partnership with Ingalls' Wellness Center, we
   provide comple- mentary medicine to offer patients
   relief from pain, increased flexibility, an alternative to
   surgery or a supplement before or after surgery.
   Some of our services include: chiropractic care, yoga,
   hypnotherapy, acupuncture, massage therapy,
   reflexology and aroma therapy.

Stroke intervention and management
This program treats patients who suffer from vascular diseases such as aneurysms, carotid artery disease, and cerebrovascular ischomia.

Radiosurgery
Through state-of-the-art technology, the CINN neurosurgeons at Ingalls collaborate with interventional radiologists and neurologists to treat brain tumors and neurovascular and pain disorders.

Brain tumor care
Ingalls offers full care for adult brain tumor patients. The CINN neurosurgeons at Ingalls are continuously refining and developing new and effective forms of early diagnosis and therapy. They work collaboratively with neurologists, psychiatrists and other specialists dedicated to caring for brain tumor patients.

Evaluation and treatment of epilepsy and movement, cognitive, sleep and peripheral nerve disorders
Neurologists and CINN neurosurgeons on staff at Ingalls provide a full array of services with the latest technology and therapies for conditions of the spine, spinal cord and nerves and muscles. Diseases include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, stroke, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, myasthenia gravis, headaches and sleep disorders.

Pain evaluation and management
Pain specialists pinpoint the source of pain and create a treatment plan that greatly increases each patient's chance of a successful recovery. The Ingalls Wellness Center also provides complementary services such as acupuncture and massage therapy for greater patient comfort.

Neurophysiology services
Ingalls is home to one of only two accredited neurophysiology labs in the Chicago area. The lab provides testing and treatment of neurological disorders. Patients also have access to the latest imaging and other technology to get the most accurate diagnosis possible.

Ingalls Center for Rehabilitative Medicine and Ingalls Center for Outpatient Rehabilitation (ICOR)
The Ingalls Center for Rehabilitative Medicine is accredited by the Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission for our comprehensive integrated inpatient rehabilitation and by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations for specialty rehabilitation services.

Board-certified physiatrists, who specialize in physical medicine and rehabilitation, direct inpatient care to patients who require intensive daily therapies and help in daily activities. They also provide outpatient rehabilitation follow-up at ICOR. ICOR is a 32,000 square-foot facility that offers a full range of outpatient services including orthopedic and neurological rehab and chronic pain management.

Learn about outpatient rehabilitation services offered through Ingalls Home Care and Ingalls Family Care Centers.

Alternative treatment options
• Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) Ingalls became one of the only hospitals in Illinois to offer VNS in 2002 as an alternative treatment for epileptics who are unable to control seizures effectively with drug treatment or surgery.

• Stereotactic radiosurgery is a highly intense and very precise form of radiation therapy used for the treatment of various types of tumors, metastatic cancer, neuralgia and some movement disorders.

read our patient success stories