At Providence Neurosurgery of Southwest Washington, we treat the full range of neurological disorders. Our experienced physicians and staff help patients, and their families, identify treatments for diseases, deal with symptoms and locate other experts and resources as needed.

• Acoustic neuromas
• Astrocytomas
• Gliomas
• Meningiomas
• Metastatic brain tumor
• Pituitary tumors
• Pseudotumor cerebri
• Skull-base tumors

• Headaches
• Migraine

• Dystonias
• Essential tremor
• Parkinson's disease

• Arteriovenous malformations
• Carotid artery disease
• Cerebral aneurysms
• Stroke

• Providence Sleep Center

• Degenerative spine disease
• Scoliosis
• Spinal cord injuries
• Spinal deformities
• Spinal column tumors
• Spinal cord tumors
• Tethered spinal cord

• Alzheimer's disease
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Cushing's syndrome
• Dementia
• Epilepsy
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH)
• Traumatic brain injury
• Trigeminal neuralgia

You know that pain in your neck that just won’t go away? Or the intense back pain you wouldn’t wish on anyone?

Providence Spine Program specializes in comprehensive screening, diagnosis and treatment of recent neck, back and spine injuries, as well as unresolved neurological and/or neurosurgical disorders of the back, neck or spine.

We provide comprehensive and coordinated care that is cost-effective, convenient and focused on getting you back to an optimal level of function as soon as possible.

The majority of spine problems can be treated without surgery. However, if you need surgical care, it's good to know that our surgeons lead the way by advancing new surgical techniques, including minimally-invasive microsurgical techniques for neck and lumbar procedures. And like our physicians, our registered nurses are specially trained in orthopedic and neurological care and are experienced in expediting the healing and recovery process. They are also specially trained in body mechanics to provide you with safe, exceptional care.

Our physicians and therapists provide evidence-based, diagnostic, operative and non-operative treatment options for spinal disorders. Close relationships between the physicians and physical therapists help ensure speedy rehabilitation and recovery.

• Spine and spinal cord tumors
• Cervical, thoracic and lumbar
• Herniated discs
• Stenosis
• Spondylolisthesis
• Lumbar scoliosis
• Lower-back pain
• Radiculopathy
• Infection
• Occipitocervical junction disorders
• Spinal arteriovenous malformations

Providence Neurosurgery of Southwest Washington offers some of the latest advances in diagnosis and treatment including:

CT (Computed Tomography) scans take images of the body from different angles, then use a computer to create 3-dimensional images that help physicians with diagnosis. With the introduction of the 64-slice CT scanner, more images can be gathered in far less time and at a higher resolution. As a result physicians have higher quality images, and more of them, to use during diagnosis. For the brain, this high-speed CT scan is typically used to diagnose bleeding, brain injury or skull fractures.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique that uses a powerful magnetic field, radiofrequency pulses and a computer to create images of the body – including the brain and spine. Physicians with the Providence Neuroscience Center have access to several types of MR machines. These include:

• Functional MRI (fMRI) – This relatively new technique measures tiny metabolic changes that take place in the active brain. As a result, fMRI shows not only an anatomical view of the brain, but minute-to-minute recording of actual brain activity. Such information can help physicians monitor the growth of brain tumors; detect abnormalities that can’t be seen with other imaging techniques; and detect stroke at a very early stage in order to initiate earlier treatments.
• MR Spectroscopy – This imaging technology measures the chemistry of the brain, allowing physicians to tell if changes are happening inside brain tissue.
• 1.5-tesla and 3.0-tesla MRI – Magnets in an MRI are rated based on the "tesla" unit of measurement. Providence’s MRI machines are rated 1.5-tesla and 3.0-tesla. The 3.0-tesla is particularly helpful in evaluating brain conditions because it takes faster, higher-quality images that reveal subtle anatomic details.

An angiogram is a type of diagnostic X-ray that involves injecting a special dye into a vein to highlight blood vessels. It is frequently used to pinpoint the precise location of blockage or bleeding in the brain.

Interventional angiography is a similar procedure, but focuses on treatment rather than diagnosis. With interventional angiography, a small stent is guided via catheter through the body to the affected blood vessel, which it opens and inflates.

The ability to see sharp images, fine details and natural colors is vital when operating on delicate areas of the body, such as the brain or spine. With the aid of Zeiss OPMI Pentero surgical microscopes, neurosurgeons can operate with pinpoint precision. The microscope’s powerful illumination and magnification capabilities enable surgeons to see small blood vessels and cranial nerves, as well as areas of the brain that are difficult to access and operate on such as the skull base. Neurosurgeons are using the microscope with almost all types of brain surgeries, tumor removal and spinal cases, and it is particularly helpful in performing aneurysm surgery.

The neurosurgical operating suites at Providence St. Peter Hospital are among the best in the area for spine surgery. Real-time neuromonitoring by a neurophysiologist for complex spine cases ensures we protect critical nerves. O-arm® surgical imaging with StealthStation® S7® navigation and AxiEM™ electromagnetic tracking system afford us integrated, high-resolution visibility of patient imaging and precise placement of spinal instrumentation. Top of-the-line surgical microscopes provide the illumination and magnification required for the delicate spine surgery procedures we perform.

• The ability to rotate all equipment 360-degrees (thanks to 50 percent fewer cords than traditional OR suites).
• An equipment “boom” that holds all laparascopic (minimally invasive) surgery equipment in one mount.
• An anesthesia “boom” that holds all the needed plug-ins for extra equipment, anesthetic gases and the anesthesia machine.
• The StrykeCan In-Light Surgical Camera, which is the first of its kind to offer a dual channel recording device, allowing for lighted image recording and capture.

Once we have received a referral from your physician, we can schedule you an appointment at our office. Your appointment will include time for extensive examination and discussion. During your visit, you will meet our highly trained medical staff. It is essential for you to bring all x-ray films to the office visit so a complete assessment can be done. We strive to see each patient at their scheduled appointment time. Occasionally a wait is unavoidable due to the nature of our specialty.

If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, please notify our office at least 24 hours in advance. This gives us an opportunity to offer the time to another patient. We sometimes encounter emergencies which force us to cancel our office schedule on short notice. If this happens, we may need to reschedule your appointment.

Please complete the forms and bring them with you to your first appointment or fax them to our office prior to your appointment. We ask that you arrive 15 minutes prior to your appointment time for your first visit to our clinic.

• History and physical form: The health history and physical form allows us to get an accurate picture of your health before we meet. Additionally, your answers on this form will help guide our conversations with you about your health.
• Patient registration form: The patient registration form collects the information we need from you to register you as a new patient with our clinic. You will only have to provide this information one time.
• Health history authorization: The health history authorization gives us permission to contact your previous providers so that we can view your previous medical records.
• Please bring all copies of x-rays or lab results. Bring the most recent imaging via disc or film.

The neurosurgeons of Providence Medical Group – Southwest Washington Neurosurgery provide care for the residents of a five-county area including Thurston, Lewis, Mason, Gray’s Harbor and Pacific Counties. We are pleased our practice is able to offer high-quality care and a broad scope of neurosurgery services close to where our patients live and work.

Our neurosurgeons are available for initial consults and second opinions. Providence St. Peter Hospital has made a financial commitment to ensuring our surgeons have state-of-the-art technology and an institutional commitment to patient-focused care. We offer local access to neurosurgical expertise, personalized care and advanced technology.

We invite you to call us to consult on a particular patient, to seek a second opinion or to refer a patient.

Our neurosurgeons are available for routine consults during our office hours. An on-call surgeon is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for urgent consults by calling Providence St. Peter Hospital’s transfer center and requesting the Providence Medical Group neurosurgeon on call.

The transfer office will then facilitate a conference call between you and one of our neurosurgeons.

Providers within the Providence system can submit a referral via Epic. Providers who do not have access to the Providence Epic system can fax referrals to our office.

• Referral fax number: 360-412-2249

Once we receive a referral, we will call your patient within 24-48 hours to schedule an appointment. We are able to provide most patients an appointment within one week of receiving a referral. In some cases, it may take up to two weeks to find a mutually agreeable time. Urgent referrals will be scheduled within one to three days