When picking health insurance, a key factor to consider is whether you’ll have access to specialty care at top medical facilities, like the new Sharp Grossmont Hospital for Neuroscience in La Mesa, opening in early 2025. Learn more about the new center in our conversation with Marguerite Paradis, assistant chief nursing officer and interim vice president of orthopedic and neurological services at Sharp Grossmont Hospital.
Q. Why is Sharp opening a new neuroscience hospital?
A. Sharp HealthCare has always been committed to meeting the needs of our community. As industry experts forecast a growing need for neurological care nationwide, we are excited to offer new advanced treatments available nowhere else in the region. Sharp Grossmont Hospital for Neuroscience will be San Diego’s first comprehensive center for patients needing advanced neurosurgical, neurological and spine care. The new state-of-the-art space on the Sharp Grossmont campus will feature an inpatient neuro-progressive care unit (Neuro PCU), an inpatient acute rehabilitation unit (ARU), a neuro-intensive care unit (Neuro ICU), and areas for physical and occupational therapy.
Q. What sort of conditions are treated at a neuroscience hospital?
A. Our comprehensive team of specialists treat patients affected by stroke, brain and spine tumors, movement disorders, spinal injuries, epilepsy and other neurological conditions. Our highly skilled staff is trained to recognize and diagnose neurological conditions quickly, allowing for earlier intervention to help increase a patient’s chance for long-term recovery and survival. Sharp Grossmont is nationally ranked as an accredited Comprehensive Stroke Center, the highest designation given by The Joint Commission in Association with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.
Q. What are some of the newer treatments available? How do these specialized treatments improve patients’ lives?
A. One exciting area of focus is treatment for movement disorders, like Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor. In some cases, patients are so severely affected by tremor they’re unable to complete daily tasks, like brushing their teeth or holding a mug. Sharp offers MR-guided focused ultrasound — a one-time, noninvasive outpatient procedure that uses ultrasound waves and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to treat the areas of the brain that cause tremor. Some patients with tremor may be treated with deep brain stimulation (DBS), which uses an implanted device to send low-level electrical signals to specific areas of the brain that coordinate the body’s movement. It’s exciting to see patients get back to living their lives thanks to these incredible technologies and the people who provide them. Sometimes, we even see improvements the same day as treatment.
Q. How can patients get care at Sharp Grossmont Hospital for Neuroscience?
A. Be sure to choose a health insurance plan that offers access to Sharp Grossmont Hospital and its neuroscience specialists. Depending on your insurance plan, you may need a referral from your primary care physician to see a specialist. To learn more about Sharp Grossmont Hospital for Neuroscience, visit sharp.com/neurosciencehospital.