Prof David Yarnitsky with a patient at the Department of Neurology at Rambam.
Photo credit: Raanan Tal-RHCC.
Rambam’s new Center for Clinical Nerve Sciences, dedicated ON October 19, 2010, will take a unique approach. Under one roof, the center will bring together experts from a wide range of “nerve sciences”, who will work together to find solutions to widespread ailments like Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease and depression

At Rambam, a unique center that combines different “nerve science” disciplines was dedicated on October 19, 2010. The goal of the Center for Clinical Nerve Sciences is to bring together experts from different relevant hospital departments: neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry, cognitive neurology, pain, neuroradiology and clinical neuro-physiology.

Prof David Yarnitsky with a patient at the Department of Neurology at  Rambam.                                                       Photo credit: Raanan Tal-RHC.

There is a clinical need for cooperation in neuroscience. People from various disciplines in the hospital must work together to upgrade care, and make it more comprehensive. We want to become attractive to researchers and clinicians in our hospital, throughout Israel and the world at large.
 “We want to strengthen departmental cooperation with the view of putting an end to the era of ‘narrow’ treatments. The treatment of patients cannot be concentrated within the scope of a single department,” explains Prof David Yarnitsky, director of the Department of Neurology at Rambam. “There is a need for cooperation between departments in order to bring patients the best existing solutions,” he continues. In essence, this reflects the maturation of medical science from being uni- to multi-dimensional , and providing a variety of treatments from different disciplines that deal with the central nervous system.

Neurologists – who cannot perform operations – need to communicate with neurosurgeons, who may need help in identifying certain phenomena. These specialists need to speak with each other and establish effective cooperation.

Take, for example, the treatment of Parkinson’s, which until now, has been completely based on drugs and carried out by neurologists. Parkinson’s treatment has been upgraded to include the surgical procedure, DBS. Involving the implantation of electrodes into the brain, DBS is performed by neurosurgeons, aided by neurophysiologists, and closely accompanied by neurologists who specialize in Parkinson’s Disease.”

This is keeping with a trend in many large hospitals in the USA. Neurology and neurosurgery are at the core of such centers, sometimes along with psychiatry. Clinical neurophysiology is a sub-field of neurology; it involves assessing patients electrically to learn how different structures are operating.  EEG is an example of this kind of assessment.

The dedication took place during a conference at which revolutionary research, conducted abroad, was presented for the first time in Israel. Offering new hope for Alzheimer’s patients, this research involves DBS, a therapy based on electrode implantation in the brain. Likewise, new treatments for depression and Parkinson’s Disease were discussed.

The conference, which opened on October 19, 2010, was aimed primarily at doctors from different disciplines within nerve science: neurologists, psychiatrists, neurosurgeons, neurophysiologists, neuroradiologists, and pain experts. In addition, various researchers in areas of nursing, and related fields of paramedicine such as physical therapy, psychology and occupational therapy were in attendance. During the conference, renowned international figures in neuroscience lectured on various related subjects.

 “As physicians and researchers, we have tended to limit ourselves by consulting and conducting research only with people from our own disciplines. We sometimes ignore those in other departments, even though they are related. This center will help to break down barriers and will advance our common interests.”