Innovation of the Year in Patient Care Award narrative – Dr. Jon McIver
Each year, approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, an illness that has no verified cause, no prevention and currently no cure. Nationally, as many as one million Americans are living with Parkinson’s disease, and that number is expected to increase over the next several years as the baby boomers enter their sixties and seventies.
One of the most promising developments for treatment is deep brain stimulation (DBS), a revolutionary procedure used to treat movement disorders including Parkinson’s and essential tremor. Under the leadership of Dr. Jon McIver, Regions Hospital has developed one of the largest, non-academic deep brain stimulation programs in the upper Midwest. Since 2010, we’ve seen a steady increase in the number of cases we treat, and in 2013 we performed approximately 90 DBS cases.
Candidates for DBS are generally patients for whom medication is no longer as effective as it once was. Dr. McIver works closely with the patient’s neurologist to identify ideal candidates who will benefit from this procedure.
One of the unique aspects of DBS surgery is that patients themselves are a part of the surgical team. They are awake during the procedure. This is so the surgical team can ask patients to follow different commands as they search for the ideal location in the brain to place the lead. The optimal spot will treat Parkinson’s symptoms while minimizing side effects.
Being awake during the procedure, with all the sights and sounds present in the OR, can be unnerving for patients. Regions addresses this with a talented team of nurses and clinicians who work together to keep the patient alert and comfortable. The entire team is essential to the success of DBS surgery and is what sets Regions apart from other hospitals.
The effectiveness of deep brain stimulation is best measured in terms of how we’re meeting our patients’ goals, whether it’s to reduce medication side effects, reduce tremors or improve mobility. Many of our patients have experienced a significant reduction of their symptoms. For example, one recent patient was living in a nursing home prior to DBS treatment. After surgery, a team of physical, occupational and speech therapists helped the patient relearn how to move well. It took time, but within a year, the patient was living independently.
Another patient had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease when she was just 42 years old. After years of tremors, countless medications and depression she was ready to try anything. The difference before and after is incredible, as her tremors have almost completely stopped.
Although a handful of other surgeons in Minnesota perform DBS, Dr. McIver and the Regions team have established themselves as leaders within the medical community.HealthPartners is able to offer the full continuum of care for DBS candidates, from primary care to neurology to neurosurgeryto therapy services that optimize the benefits. In addition to HealthPartners Parkinson’s Center, Regions partners with Struthers Parkinson’s Center, the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis Clinic of Neurology, Capistrant Centerand other health care organizations in our community.
Summary paragraph – Jon McIver
Dr. Jon McIver, neurosurgeon, HealthPartners Parkinson’s Center, is a leading expert in Minnesota for deep brain stimulation. DBS is a revolutionary procedure to treat movement disorders including Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor. Under Dr. McIver’s leadership, Regions Hospital has developed one of the largest non-academic deep brain stimulation programs in the upper Midwest, performing approximately 90 DBS cases in 2013. Much of Dr. McIver’s ongoing success can be attributed to the strong team of nurses and clinicians at Regions and his ability to collaborate with a variety of professionals from institutions across our community.