Neuro care center in South Denver

Swedish Neuro Network

Swedish Medical Center is a national leader in the area of neurosciences. Featuring clinical depth and a team of experts, combined with unparalleled outcomes, Swedish has become the gold standard in stroke, neurology and neurosurgical care.

The Swedish Neuro Network leverages the quality and capabilities of Swedish with stroke/neuro care at five other HealthONE acute care hospitals for the benefit of patients throughout the Rocky Mountain region. Services are available at:

For more information about the Swedish Neuro Network, please call (866) 779-3347.

Features and benefits of our neuroscience center

We know facing the diagnosis of a complicated neurological disorder can be overwhelming. To help with this, we offer a range of services at our neuroscience center, such as:

  • 24/7 team availability for stroke treatments
  • 25 neuro-related clinical studies
  • 2D/3D intraoperative surgical imaging system to help our surgeons excel in the operating room (OR)
  • Critical care and neuroscience-certified nurses and nurse practitioners
  • Fellowship-trained functional neurosurgeons
  • Specialized palliative care services
  • Stereotactic radiosurgery non-invasive procedures
  • Stroke telemedicine services

Neurocritical care

The neuroscience center of excellence at Swedish Medical Center includes a robust neurocritical care program that offers advanced care for patients who suffer from life-threatening neurological illnesses.

Equipped with the latest technology and techniques, our highly specialized team of experts work together to create an individualized, comprehensive plan of care for each patient. Led by a neurocritical care board-certified medical director, our multidisciplinary team includes neurosurgeons (including a vascular-fellowship trained neurosurgeon), nationally recognized neuro-hospitalists, neurointensivist, neurologists, interventional radiologists, general surgeons, trauma surgeons, pulmonary medicine physicians and internal medicine physicians.

This expert physician team is supported by neuro-specialty trained RNs, a neurovascular program nurse practitioner and a neurocritical care educator and coordinator.

Dedicated neuro ICU

Equipped with a dedicated 18-bed neurocritical care unit, our specialists use advanced diagnostic and monitoring techniques and technology to identify critical problems and prevent or minimize permanent neurological damage. With standardized protocols and management guidelines, our team offers new hope to patients with:

  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI) — A traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs from sudden trauma that causes damage in the brain and can range from mild to severe. Examples of situations that can result in a TBI include:
    • The mandibular nerve, which controls the lower jaw
    • The maxillary nerve, which controls the cheeks, nasal cavity, lower sinuses, palate and upper jaw
    • The ophthalmic nerve, which controls the eyes, upper sinuses, forehead and scalp
  • Spinal cord injury — Spinal cord injuries generally happen when a trauma causes vertebrae to dislocate or become fractured, interrupting the communication that travels along the spine between the brain and the rest of the body.
  • Stroke — A stroke, or "brain attack," occurs when blood flow to an area of the brain is cut off. The cells in the affected area of the brain do not get oxygen and begin to die off. Abilities controlled by the brain, such as muscle control or memory, can be lost. As 30,000 brain cells die each second during a stroke, medical personnel needs to intervene as quickly as possible to stop the stroke and limit any damage.
  • Ruptured aneurysm
  • Seizures
  • Brain tumors
  • Encephalitis (infection of the brain)
  • Meningitis (infection of the membrane around the brain or spinal cord)

Neurological disorders we treat

Our team of highly specialized brain and nerve specialists includes neurosurgeons, neurologists and interventional neuroradiologists. They are available 24/7, treating patients with neurological conditions, such as:

Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder in which nerve cell activity in the brain becomes interrupted. This results in unpredictable, recurring seizures, odd behavior or, at times, a loss of consciousness.

In the entire state of Colorado, Swedish Medical Center offers the most comprehensive diagnosis and treatment capabilities for seizure disorders. We are able to do this because we are equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic tools, specialized care units and a top-tier team of dedicated medical professionals. Our advanced resources include:

Neurological treatments we provide

We know the most effective treatments must not only address the illness, but also the individual. You will find our approach centers on caring for you as a person, not just treating the disease. That is why we offer surgical, non-surgical and rehabilitative options for neurological conditions.

Some of our specialty treatments include:

Trauma treatments

Trauma and neurological damage often occur simultaneously, such as when a spinal injury also causes a traumatic brain injury (TBI). These types of injuries require fast, expert care, which you will find at our Level I Trauma Center. Here, our team of specialists provides that care, 24/7, offering immediate medical attention to patients from the moment they arrive.

Along with our own special trauma care units, we partner with two of our nearby HealthONE rehabilitation facilities to provide additional specialized trauma care:

Deep brain stimulation (DBS)

DBS is a surgical treatment to help treat debilitating neurological conditions, such as movement disorders. DBS uses a “brain pacemaker” that sends electrical signals to help regulate the symptoms of cognitive and movement disorders.

DBS uses minimally invasive, non-destructive and reversible techniques to help patients with movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor and dystonias (involuntary muscle contractions).

MR-guided focused ultrasound for essential tremor treatment

MR-guided focused ultrasound (FUS) provides relief for patients with certain movement disorders including essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease.

This noninvasive treatment requires no incisions and is a game-changer for many who experience the effects of movement disorders. Using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, our team of experts precisely identifies the specific location within the brain causing the tremor symptoms, including shaking hands. Focused heat is then used to create a small burn to target the abnormality. Because of the incredible precision and nature of FUS, we can treat hard-to-access, tiny targets with extreme accuracy. And, since anesthesia and incisions are not required, most patients are able to go home the same day. This procedure does not involve radiation, however patients with pacemakers, kidney disease or those who cannot undergo an MRI are not eligible for this procedure.

For more information about focused ultrasound treatment, call (303) 788-6939 or email TremorRelief@HealthONEcares.com.

If your condition affects your daily life and medication is not able to relieve the symptoms, FUS might be an option for you. Patients with pacemakers, kidney disease or those who cannot undergo an MRI are not eligible for this procedure.

Functional neurosurgery

Functional neurosurgery involves the restoration of neurological condition and function. This innovative and highly complex branch of medicine includes new devices and techniques that allow our neurosurgeons to help more people than ever before. It includes:

  • Surgical management of epilepsy, including resection, laser ablation, stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG), DBS, responsive neurostimulation (RNS) and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS)
  • Functional surgery for chronic craniofacial, spinal and extremity pain disorders
For more information about our functional neurosurgery services, contact our program coordinator at (303) 788-6939..

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS)

SRS brain surgery often provides the best treatment options for trigeminal neuralgia and certain types of brain tumors. This is a "knifeless" surgery, meaning it delivers doses of pinpointed radiation to treat brain tumors and other neurological diseases. It is a safe, accurate procedure that helps save normal brain tissue.

Non-invasive SRS treatments are also completed in a matter of hours, as outpatient procedures. Patients generally go home in as soon as four hours and resume normal activities within a few days.

Benefits of stereotactic radiosurgery

This type of surgery boasts a multitude of benefits for patients:

  • Safe, accurate, reliable and non-invasive outpatient procedure
  • Patients experience virtually no pain, discomfort or side effects
  • Lower incidence of postoperative complications, infections and internal hemorrhage
  • Patients are usually discharged within 12 hours, reducing the cost of treatment compared to traditional brain surgery
  • Patients usually return to preoperative lifestyle the day following the procedure
  • Covered by Medicare and most insurance providers

Swedish currently has the newest model of one of the most trusted stereotactic radiosurgery products in the world.

Conditions we treat with stereotactic radiosurgery

Stereotactic radiosurgery is most often used for:

  • Intracranial tumors
  • Functional disorders
  • Vascular malformations
  • Neurological disorders

Care for patients with spinal cord injuries

Many patients who seek treatment at the Falci Institute for Spinal Cord Injuries have a myriad of symptoms, relentless pain and complex diagnoses. Once they learn that our team has the experience and training to not only accurately diagnose their conditions, but also can help them live better lives, the relief can be palpable.

If you are continuing to suffer after a spinal cord injury and you aren’t sure where to turn, get in touch with us and learn how we may be able to help you. Our one-of-a-kind treatment options are like no other – we innovate and personalize care plans for each of our patients. Hear stories from our patients who may have experiences like yours. We encourage all people who have experienced a spinal cord injury to be aware of any changes in sensation, function, pain and strength. These often indicate the development of a complication from your injury. Some conditions we see that result from spinal cord injuries include:

  • Posttraumatic Tethered Spinal Cord
  • Posttraumatic Syringomyelia
  • Posttraumatic Spasticity
  • Posttraumatic Neuropathic Pain
  • Complex Spinal Cord Deformities and Degenerative Spine

Learn more about the Falci Institute for Spinal Cord Injuries.

Neurological care at HealthONE

Neurological care is the practice of medicine that focuses on the treatment, function and diagnosis of diseases relating to the nerves and nervous system. Neurologists and neurosurgeons treat disorders that affect the brain or spinal cord.

Learn about Neurological care