Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/689394
WELLSPAN PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGY E X TENDS ACADEMIC£ LE VEL CARE FOR EPILEPSY, CONCUSSION, PEDIATRIC HE ADACHE, DE VELOPMENTAL DISORDERS AND OTHER NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS OF CHILDHOOD ACROSS THE COMMUNITIES OF CENTR AL PENNSYLVANIA. THIS ALLOWS PATIENTS TO RECEIVE ADVANCED SPECIALT Y CARE NE AR THEIR HOMES. PEDI ATRIC NEUROLOGIS T S Willia m Benko, MD; Jena K hera, MD; a nd Todd Ba rron, MD, Medica l Director of WellSpa n Neurosciences, as well a s cer tified reg istered nurse practitioners A my Brickner a nd Matthew Hendell, o•er a wide range of diagnostic and treatment options for pediatric neurologica l disorders. These include integrated, systemwide approaches to managing headache and concussion, in addition to inpatient and ambulatory electroencephalography monitoring and vagus nerve stimulation for epilepsy. Demand for pediatric neurolog y services in Central Pennsylvania is grow- ing. In 2015, WellSpan Pediatric Neurolog y specia lists saw more than 7,000 patients in their practice; nearly 22 percent were new patients. " We want to ensure patients are seen quickly, which is important for this population," says Lori Clark, Vice President of Neurosciences at WellSpan Health. " We have taken steps to keep pace with patient demand. One is hiring a fourth pediatric neurologist, who will join us in July 2017 and practice in Ephrata; this will a llow us to extend services to the communities we serve in Lancaster County. Another is partnering with the Epilepsy Foundation of Western/Centra l Pennsylvania to hold clinica l visits via telemedicine technolog y with cer ta in epilepsy patients who live great dista nces from our practices." Investigating Cannabidiol's Therapeutic Potential IN RECENT Y E A R S, researchers have explored the efficacy of cannabinoids — substances found in cannabis — in controlling epileptic seizures. WellSpan Health clinicians are contributing to this effort. WellSpan is the only health organiza- tion in Central Pennsylvania participating in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the GW Pharmaceuticals drug Epidiolex. The drug is derived from cannabidiol, a non-psychoac- tive cannabinoid. "In preliminary studies, cannabidiol demonstrated positive effects in two forms of epilepsy," says Todd Barron, MD, Medical Director of Neurosciences. "WellSpan is one of the sites investigating Epidiolex's efficacy in patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. We have 13 children enrolled." Dr. Barron expects the study to conclude in approximately one year. Collaborative Team Approach Provides High-level Pediatric Neurology with a Broad Regional Reach BY THOMAS CROCKER 1 8S P E C I A L F E A T U R E