BEST HOSPITALS

MOUNT ELIZABETH HOSPITAL

Neurology is a branch of medicine that deals with disorders of the brain and the entire nervous system . These disorders often impact the rest of the body , making them complex and difficult to diagnose .

Thankfully , neurologists at Mount Elizabeth Hospital ( MEH ) relish a good challenge . As a testament to their efforts and expertise , the hospital has been awarded the Neurology Service Provider of the Year prize for the fifth year running , since the award ’ s inauguration in 2017 .

By combining interdisciplinary synergies with modern technology and allied health support , MEH neurologists are able to offer integrated and high-quality care for patients with neurological conditions .

“ Patients have access to the full suite of necessary skill sets and expertise of our neurologists , neurosurgeons , interventional radiologists , nursing and allied health professionals ,” Dr Noel Yeo , Chief Operating Officer of IHH Healthcare Singapore , told Global Health Asia-Pacific . “ They can entrust their recuperation journey to us as we take them from treatment to recovery without missing a step .”

Patients with stroke , brain and spinal cord trauma , sleep disorders , Parkinson ’ s disease , tremors , epilepsy , brain tumours and aneurysms ( swelling of blood vessels ) will find themselves in good hands at MEH . Their treatment will be guided not just by experienced specialists , but also extensive diagnostic tools such as the PET-MRI system , which provides accurate images of the internal body to spot potential problems .

Should patients require surgical intervention , neurosurgeons are on hand to provide procedures ranging from awake craniotomy and deep brain stimulation to non-invasive radiation therapy . Gamma

Knife radiosurgery , in particular , has been shown to provide reliable results with a high degree of safety , shorter hospital stay and faster recovery .

Awake craniotomy is often performed to remove a brain tumour while the patient is still conscious , to minimise the risk of damaging key body functions controlled by the brain .

Deep brain stimulation surgery involves the insertion of implants into the skull to transmit electricity to block abnormal brain signals causing neurological disorders . It can reduce the severity of some Parkinson ’ s symptoms including tremors , stiffness , and involuntary movements , and thus help patients improve their quality of life .

Gamma Knife is a form of radiotherapy that can treat both benign and malignant brain tumours like acoustic neuromas and meningiomas , trigeminal neuralgia ( a form of chronic pain in the face and brain ), and other neurological problems . It is particularly useful against cancer because it can be used as an alternative to both surgery and chemotherapy – two approaches associated with potentially serious side effects .

A wide range of neuro-rehabilitation services are also available to help patients better recover from neurological disorders . This includes occupational therapy to maximise patients ’ abilities in the areas of work and self-care , physiotherapy to improve movements of the back and neck , as well as speech therapy to tackle both communication and swallowing difficulties .

As rehabilitation can come with significant emotional challenges , MEH empowers patients through behaviour counselling and health education , to support their psychological well-being and help them avoid unhealthy lifestyle habits .

MEH ’ s dedicated medical team and personalised recovery regimes go a long way towards helping patients regain their health and make a sooner return to a meaningful quality of life .

GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com NOVEMBER 2021

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