System Provides Advanced Neurological Care Close to Home
Bonny Boice’s family suspected something was wrong when the 68-year-old retired executive coach and avid skier kept falling on a family trip to the ski slopes. Unexpected weight gain and other worrisome symptoms led them to encourage her to seek emergency care. Boice was diagnosed with a craniopharyngioma, a benign tumor that sits at the base of the brain. What followed was a complex medical journey that required a sophisticated, multi-disciplinary approach.
“I feel so fortunate to have gone to Albany Medical Center where there is a team that knows how to perform this surgery,” said Boice, of Charlton. The team, led by Jordon Grube, DO, and Robert Heller, MD, worked together to perform a highly specialized procedure to remove the tumor endonasally, through Boice’s nose, avoiding open brain surgery, and resulting in
a faster recovery.
Months later, she’s recovering through a seamless network of care: physical and occupational therapy with Saratoga Hospital, and follow-up visits with Dr. Heller at his Clifton Park office. She also appreciates the convenience of MyChart, the patient portal that connects her with specialists throughout the System so she can easily coordinate her appointments, referrals, and records while she continues her recovery.
First Choice in Action - Another Patient Perspective
Since his December diagnosis of advanced brain cancer, John Klassen’s health care team has extended from his primary care physician in the Hudson Valley to neurology and neurosurgery at Albany Medical Center to physical therapy and follow-up care at Columbia Memorial Health. When he was hospitalized with a severe case of the flu in mid-February, his care team made sure he didn’t miss a single radiation treatment.
“Everyone being on the same page immediately gave me a sense that this was going to be a well-led team and that, while I might face some bumps in the road, they all had my back,” said Klassen, who appreciated timely updates posted in his MyChart account that not only kept him informed about his own care but were readily available to everyone involved with his health, from Hudson to Albany.
Tradition of Excellence in the Neurosciences
From the most complex surgeries for brain tumors, to the latest technology to identify and treat stroke, to groundbreaking research on Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders, the System is renowned for a tradition of excellence in the neurosciences.
Comprising neurology and neurosurgery, the neurosciences program embraces cross-departmental collaboration, including with physical medicine and rehabilitation and psychiatry practitioners, to provide the most advanced care for people with neurological illnesses and diseases.
Our neurosurgical providers have expertise in all areas of neurosurgery, including endovascular stroke care, pediatric neurosurgery, functional neurosurgery, neuro-oncology, trauma neurosurgery, cranial base surgery and spine surgery, and perform some of the most advanced neurosurgical and minimally invasive procedures available.
Our neurologists have expertise in a wide range of neurological conditions, including epilepsy, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), neuropathy, multiple sclerosis and other neuromuscular diseases, and dementias and neurodegenerative disorders.
Together, our neuroscience providers also lead clinical trials, collaborate with our research scientists on translational research, and educate the next generation of health professionals and leaders to serve both our region and across the country.
Comprehensive Stroke Center Designation
Albany Medical Center received certification from DNV as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, reflecting the highest level of competence for treatment of serious stroke events. Based on standards set forth by the Brain Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association, the designation affirms that Albany Medical Center addresses the full spectrum of stroke care, including diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and education—and establishes clear metrics to evaluate outcomes.
Centers of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease
The Alzheimer’s Centers at Albany Medical Center and Glens Falls Hospital are both New York State-designated Centers of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease, part of a medical network recognized nationally as experts in the diagnosis and care of those living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. Both serve as comprehensive resources for the health care community, providing diagnostic and consultative services to primary care physicians and care for patients.
HDSA Center of Excellence
Albany Medical Center’s Huntington’s Disease Clinic is a Huntington’s Disease Society of America Level 2 Center of Excellence, one of only four such centers in New York State and 55 in the country. Specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of Huntington’s disease, clinicians also conduct research and test for gene mutations, and participate in the Huntington Study Group, a national organization of professionals dedicated to accelerating treatments that make a difference and to improving the quality of life and outcomes for those impacted by Huntington’s disease.
Level 4 Epilepsy Center
Albany Medical Center’s adult Epilepsy Program is a member of the prestigious National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC). Our Level 4 NAEC designation, the highest level, recognizes that we offer comprehensive diagnostic, medical, and surgical care for this complex brain disorder that affects both adults and children. In addition, at our inpatient epilepsy monitoring unit, specialized testing records seizures over a few days to determine if symptoms are due to epilepsy or another condition, and to identify the precise brain region causing seizures in patients who may benefit from surgery.
Pediatric Care
The Bernard & Millie Duker Children’s Hospital at Albany Medical Center is the only hospital in the region that provides pediatric neurology services. Symptoms of neurologic disease can be difficult to diagnose and treat in children, but our team of surgeons, physicians, and clinicians has extensive experience in diagnosing and treating complex neurological disorders and conditions in infants, children, and adolescents. Many of our specialists also have subspecialty expertise in specific areas like epilepsy, muscle disease, headache, and movement disorders.
Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors
At Albany Medical Center, our collaborative Neuro-Oncology Tumor Board reviews each patient’s case to create an individualized treatment plan, engaging patients in clinical trials when applicable. Our neurosurgeons use advanced techniques in state-of-the art facilities to provide the highest quality care for benign and malignant brain and spinal cord tumors.
Research and Community Outreach
With expertise in epilepsy, stroke, dementia, demyelinating diseases, neurodevelopmental disorders, and interactions between the nervous system and peripheral organs, basic science researchers in the Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics work to advance the field of neuroscience through collaborative research, scientific discovery, and education of scientists, physician scientists, and the community.