WJMC - West Jeff Medical Center

Developed for patients and families, the Neurosciences program at West Jefferson Medical Center offers a patient-focused approach to care across several areas including neurology, neuro-surgery, neuro-radiology and neuro-oncology. Recognized for quality, awards such as the 2008 American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines Silver Performance Award for Stroke Care and a 2007 Distinguished Achievement Award from the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons is testimony to the work being done by doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals.

The team of doctors at WEST JEFFERSON MEDICAL CENTER is providing quality care in the areas of spine, brain tumor, and stroke care as well as motion disorders. The talented group of professionals has made a name for themselves throughout our region as they continue to offer the type of care many individuals would travel hundreds of miles to receive. Centers of care units at West Jefferson essential to the neuroscience program are the Emergency Department, Stroke Unit and Rehab Unit as well as the 8 South Oncology and Neuroscience Nursing Unit.

WEST JEFFERSON MEDICAL CENTER is able to offer our community cutting edge resources to diagnose and treat many Neurological problems. With a team of experienced physicians they are able to work together to meet patient needs – this gives each patient a group of professionals offering comprehensive care. These physicians are highly trained and equipped to provide excellent care to area patients. One such example is treatment available for certain types of brain tumors –the CyberKnife is a tool that can allow a patient to return home the same day as the procedure. The CyberKnife Center is located within the Radiation Therapy Department at West Jefferson Medical Center in the hospital. West Jefferson was the first hospital in Louisiana to bring CyberKnife to its patients. West Jefferson’s Radiation Therapy Department is the only Radiation Oncology program physically located on the West Bank.

In the same way, cutting-edge stroke care procedures including neuro-interventional radiology, from diagnosis to rehabilitation, allow for sound and effective treatment of a patient throughout the entire process. Using diagnostic procedures such as a C.T. scan or MRI helps the team determine exactly what is occurring in the brain in order to begin a rehabilitation program and get the patient home as quickly as possible.

Another staple of the care available at WJMC is spine care. The team focuses on non-invasive procedures when available – helping to treat patients properly and often decreasing down time. From neurological surgery and complex spinal surgery, the team at WJMC sees and treats a variety of spinal injuries from trauma to tumors.

For years, it was thought that they only way to treat Parkinson's disease was through medication. The physicians at WEST JEFFERSON MEDICAL CENTER are helping patients with Parkinson's and other tremor disorders by providing alternative treatments such as deep brain stimulation – a surgical implant that can be highly effective in relieving the symptoms of movement disorders. Another motion disorder is ET or Essential Tremor. After they determine that a patient is suffering from ET, treatment can begin either with medications or physical therapy. But, if a patient doesn't respond, deep brain stimulation as is used with Parkinson's to control the shaking is a procedure physicians may consider.

Following Hurricane Katrina, WEST JEFFERSON MEDICAL CENTER helped LSU School of Medicine keep its residency programs in our community including those in neurology and neurosurgery. Working together with the Culicchia Neurological Clinic they are continuing to train future neurologists and neurosurgeons right here on the West Bank at our community hospital.

WEST JEFFERSON MEDICAL CENTER is excelling in providing our community with the Neurological healthcare it needs. To find a physician in the neuroscience specialties at West Jefferson Medical Center, speak with your primary care physician. You may also call the Physician Referral line for assistance at (504) 349-2054 or the Medical Staff office at (504) 349-1119.