Hoag is bringing the very best of Newport Beach to Irvine.
No, it’s not the surfing. Or the bike paths along the ocean. Or the
beach volleyball. Instead, Hoag is expanding its renowned Neurosciences
Institute to Hoag Health Center Irvine, ensuring that Irvine residents
will enjoy the highest possible quality of life for many years to come.
The expansion of the
Pickup Family Neurosciences Institute into Irvine gives South County residents access to neurosciences specialty
services that currently distinguish Hoag in Newport Beach, including services
to treat back pain, brain tumor, memory and cognitive disorders, neuropathy,
headache, epilepsy, and sleep disorders.
“With our comprehensive approach to neurological issues, Hoag addresses
the entire patient holistically,” saidMichael Brant-Zawadzki, M.D., F.A.C.R., executive medical director of Hoag
Neurosciences Institute and the Ron and Sandi Simon Endowed Chair.
“Our measured, innovative approach helps restore patients to a higher
quality of life,” Dr. Brant-Zawadzki said. “We are excited
to be able to bring that level of sophistication and innovation to Irvine.”
Neurology
Dr. Brant-Zawadzki thinks of the Pickup Family Neurosciences Institute the way he
thinks of the brain: As the hub that allows so many important processes
to occur. Whether a patient is experiencing memory loss, headache or motor
skills impairment, our highly trained neurologists work together across
neuroscience disciplines to help identify a treatment regimen and improve
a patient’s quality of life.
“Like the brain itself, we are constantly learning, growing and building
upon our experiences in every specialty we offer,” Dr. Brant-Zawadzki
said. “Our multidisciplinary teams approach to serving our patients
has allowed us to become a nationally recognized center for the treatment
of disorders of the nervous system.”
Neck and Back Pain
Among the many specialties this expansion will bring to Irvine is the expert
care of some of the most experienced and widely respected neurosurgeons
in the country. Hoag’s specialists are particularly known for what
they don’t do: Rush into back surgery.
Only 15 patients were found to need surgery out of the 400 seen during
the first year of the
Hoag Neurosurgery Spine Program, a comprehensive program created to treat patients in the most conservative
and holistic way possible. Those that did require surgery were treated
with minimally invasive techniques that Hoag affiliated surgeons have mastered.
“What we created at Hoag is a neuro-spine program that patients can
call without fearing that they will be rushed into surgery,” said
Burak M. Ozgur, M.D., chief of service for the Neurosurgical Spine Program
at Hoag. “Many patients are referred to Hoag’s physical therapists,
acupuncturists, pain managers and other specialists who work with the
surgeons to help patients find the care that is right for them.”
Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
Irvine is a diverse city, known for its vitality and youth. But as its
population matures, residents are finding themselves in need of diagnosis
and treatment options for such degenerative conditions as Alzheimer’s
disease and dementia.
Under the leadership of
William R. Shankle, M.D., M.S., M.D., F.A.C.P., the Judy & Richard
Voltmer Endowed Chair in Memory and Cognitive Disorders, Pickup Family Neurosciences Institute will bring its nationally renowned care to patients and their families
in Irvine and the surrounding community.
Dr. Shankle is recognized as a leader in using lifestyle changes and risk
factor management to delay the onset of the first symptoms of Alzheimer’s
by as much as 15 years, and dementia by 20 years.
“With early identification and proper treatment, we can make it possible
for someone to live out his entire life without experiencing dementia,”
Dr. Shankle said. “For patients who already have symptoms of the
disease, new treatments in clinical trials are stabilizing the condition,
stopping the progression of the disease.”
Tailor-Made Neuroscience
Hoag’s multidisciplinary approach allows our experienced teams to
create diagnostic and treatment options and management strategies designed
for each patient. This tailor-made approach is one reason our highly experienced
neurologists and neurosurgeons serve as national leaders in the treatment
of headache, brain tumors, epilepsy, cognitive disorders, concussions
and other neurological issues.
“For years, Pickup Family Neurosciences Institute has strived to improve our
patients’ quality of life by giving them expert care tailored to
their individual needs,” Dr. Brant-Zawadzki said. “We are
thrilled to bring Hoag’s level of quality care closer to the community
here in Irvine.”