This department is one of the oldest in the city and has had several illustrious neurologists over the years, who have provided excellent services. Dr N Sai Ram and Dr R RPandey continue to hold the fort. Dr M Thomas joined in '16 , followed by Dr D. Zutshi in '18. So, with the availability of four senior neurologists, comprehensive care for the neurologically ill patients has been eminently possible, with emergency, out-patient and in-patient services.
All routine electrophysiological tests are performed in the department namely Nerve Conduction Studies, Electromyography (EMG), Repetitive Nerve Stimulation (RNS), Facial nerve conduction and blink reflex studies.
The Evoked Potentials required in clinical practice, VEP, ABEP, SSEP are all done. The routine, short term EEG's are performed in the outpatient. A separate portable EEG machine is used to record EEG in the ICU as corroborative evidence for conditions such as viral encephalitis, severity of brain dysfunction, nonconvulsive status, metabolic coma, among others.
There is facility for nerve and muscle biopsy in the workup of patients with neuromuscular diseases.
Botulinum toxin (Botox) injections are used for various disorders like dyskinesias, and for the relief of spasticity.
The entire spectrum of neurological diseases can be managed in the hospital, either in the outpatient or after admission to the wards / ICU. As the ICU services are very good, seriously ill patients can be managed effectively. The neurological conditions range from the ubiquitous, primary headaches, epilepsy, childhood neurological disorders, neurodegenerative conditions such as parkinsonism, dementia to stroke, viral encephalitis, or complicated tubercular meningitis. The in house, round the clock availability of radiological support have been invaluable in the management of the wide and complex spectrum of patients .
The department provides modern stroke services like thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy. Also, the procedure of Deep Brain Stimulation, can be made available for patients with medically intractable epilepsy or movement disorders. The neurologists routinely provide inter departmental consultations.
In the fine tradition of service of the Holy Family hospital, additional support is offered for children and adults with disability; patients with dementias, parkinsonism and other neurodegenerative conditions have been linked to organizations such as ARDSI ie Alzheimer and Related Disorders Society of India, for home based care, residential facility, and to Samvedna, for psychosocial support. Children with learning / physical disability, are encouraged to access resources through Aadi ( formerly Spastic society ), and NIPCCD, National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development.
The hospital was started by the Medical Mission Sisters who say " it eats us up " when individuals and communities are denied resources ... " ; that commitment has driven the hospital's services to the migrant workers residing in urban slums. This has also motivated the department to democratization of knowledge by tele mentoring of physicians in smaller towns , providing of free specialist consultation, and a streamlining of the referral pathway. This activity is done under the aegis of ECHO ie Extension of Community Healthcare Outcomes, which has a presence in several countries and across multiple disease verticals. The Holy Family ECHO Neurology tele teaching sessions cater to physicians in remote areas, and have therefore, come up with evidence based protocols, with emphasis on health literacy, and preventive aspects of stroke, or use of low cost, effective plasmapheresis/autologous transfusion in place of expensive intravenous immunoglobulins.
The department is uniquely poised for providing training physicians in community neurology as well as creating cadres of skilled technicians in electrophysiology, geriatric care, by way of inhouse fellowships.
