Neurology services

Loss of feeling or tingling, weakness or loss of muscle strength, sudden loss of sight or double vision, confusion, slurred or garbled speech, tremors, seizures, persistent or sudden onset of a headache – all serious symptoms of a neurologic condition that shouldn’t be ignored. Firelands Regional Medical Center’s partnership with Advanced Neurologic Associates provides treatment for a neurologic condition that can be found close to home.

Our compassionate and experienced team of doctors and nurses at Firelands Regional Medical Center proudly offers the following neurology services, including multiple sclerosis treatment, in Sandusky, Ohio.

Firelands provides neurology services for the following common neurological disorders:

• Alzheimer's disease
• Birth defects of the brain and spinal cord
• Brain aneurysm
• Brain injury
• Brain tumor
• Cerebral palsy
• Concussion
• Dementia
• Epilepsy
• Guillain-Barre syndrome
• Multiple sclerosis
• Muscular dystrophy
• Neuralgia
• Neuropathy
• Parkinson's disease
• Scoliosis
• Seizures
• Spinal cord injury
• Stroke
• Vertigo

Neurodiagnostic Treatment

Certified Primary Stroke Center

Primary stroke centers take stroke seriously from the minute a patient walks through the door. Time lost is brain lost. Most often, patients who have suffered a stroke can receive comprehensive care right here, because Firelands is a certified primary stroke center.

Firelands earned this distinction after the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP) conducted an extensive and objective review of the hospital’s stroke program. This Primary Stroke certification shows that Firelands has the capacity to stabilize and treat acute stroke patients, provide acute care and administer tPA and other acute therapies safely and efficiently.

Firelands has been certified as a Primary Stroke Center since 2007. The stroke care provided at Firelands includes emergency care, including telestroke technology, diagnostic care, physicians specializing in stroke care, comprehensive rehabilitation and services to assist patients in recovery from stroke.

Multiple sclerosis treatment: infusions & services

The Infusion Center at Firelands Regional Medical Center provides a beautiful, peaceful environment for multiple sclerosis treatments. Each of the 15 treatment bays is equipped with comfortable chairs and televisions. Three private rooms are available for those patients desiring privacy. These services are overseen by the physicians of Advanced Neurologic Associates, and a physician referral is required.

Did you know Firelands Regional Medical Center is the only facility in the area certified in the Lemtrada REMS Program for multiple sclerosis treatment and, with a prescription from a neurologist, is able to prescribe, dispense, or administer Lemtrada?

Firelands is also proud to offer Ocrevus, the first and only approved therapy for primary progressive multiple sclerosis.

Our full list of multiple sclerosis treatment services includes:

• Tysabri
• Solumedrol
• IVIG (Octagam)
• Alemtuzumab (Lemtrada)
• REMS Enrolled/ Authorized Infusion Center
• Ocrelizumab (Ocrevus)
• Patient teaching and education

The Infusion Center at Firelands provides multiple sclerosis treatment services, including Lemtrada, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For assistance after 5 p.m., please contact the nursing supervisor at 419-557-7400.

Cognitive Clinic

The Cognitive Clinic at Firelands Regional Medical Center was established to provide a collaborative resource for those dealing with attention, memory, and decision-making issues as well as motor and language difficulties.
With a physician referral, this outpatient service:

• Uses a multidisciplinary evaluation to appropriately diagnose patients by assessing multiple potential causes of cognitive impairment. This includes a thorough assessment of how this impacts all aspects of a patient’s life.
• Develop a personalized treatment plan that will promote overall cognitive health and improved quality of life for both patients and families.
• The clinic is staffed by the neurologists of Advanced Neurologic Associates and is directed by Steven Benedict, M.D.
• During this comprehensive outpatient visit, the patient will be evaluated by a registered nurse, speech therapist and neurologist.
• The purpose of this evaluation is to accomplish several weeks of assessments in one visit.
• Appropriate patients will be referred for prompt evaluation for:
  • Laboratory testing
  • Radiographic studies
  • Physical therapy
  • Occupational therapy
  • Neuropsychological evaluation