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What's New
Colorado Neurological Institute (CNI)
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CNI Specialty CentersSince its establishment in 1988, CNI has redefined the way patients and their families access treatment and care for a full range of neurological disorders. We’ve done so by creating a centralized resource that brings together the very best neurological specialists, facilities and capabilities in the Rocky Mountain Region. We’ve also simplified access to vital information and resources for other physicians and medical facilities throughout the region. And, we’ve enhanced communication within the medical and local communities to educate individuals about prevention and available treatment options for a wide range of disorders that affect the lives of thousands every year. Simply put, CNI is a resource like no other in the Rocky Mountain Region. We maintain a world-class membership of over 60 physicians and specialists in the field of neurosciences who work together to determine and coordinate the most effective and personalized treatment plans for patients, from diagnosis through rehabilitation and recovery. In addition to resulting in better clinical outcomes and greater overall patient satisfaction, this unique collaborative approach allows physicians to share their knowledge, ideas and experiences with the latest advancements in neurosciences. That not only encourages progress, it helps ensure that new insights are applied to ongoing patient care. CNI’s centralized system of neurological care further distinguishes our organization by enhancing the breadth and depth of capabilities we are able to provide to our patients and their families. These include Swedish Medical Center, a Level I Trauma Center and acute care hospital, Craig Hospital and Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital. To find out more about the CNI program or service for a neurological condition, click on a program or service or contact CNI if you're not sure where to start. If there isn't a link, please contact us and we will help you reach the appropriate doctors or staff. You can also check the CNI member list.
Programs
Each year, more than 100,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with primary or metastic tumors of the brain or spinal cord. One of the leading centers of care for the diagnosis and treatment of these complex illnesses is the CNI Center for Brain and Spinal Tumors. CNI Center for Brain and Spinal Tumors: Provides patients with the latest surgical and non-surgical treatment options, including neurosurgical treatments such as awake craniotomy, functional mapping, frameless stereotaxy and laser surgery. These treatments are often accompanied by an aggressive combination of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy or stereotactic radiosurgery. Tailored to each patient’s diagnosis and specific needs, the Center’s multidisciplinary team of professionals works together to determine the optimum course of treatment in order to ensure the best possible patient outcome. The team includes specialists in neurosurgery, neuro-oncology, neurology, physiatry (rehabilitation), neuroradiology, radiation oncology, neuropsychology, research, social work, nursing and chaplaincy. Patients also have access to psychological services and a wide range of complementary treatment options, including massage therapy, nutritional counseling, healing services, support groups and the HeartStrings Project. The Center has established a data collection system to monitor and assess information on patient survival, treatment plans and outcomes in an ongoing effort to design new treatment protocols, as well as improve quality of life and increase lifespan length. Key 2005 achievements include:
It is estimated that four percent of the U.S. population suffer from chronic seizure disorders or epilepsy. Approximately 40,000 of those individuals are here in Colorado. The doctors at the CNI Epilepsy Center evaluate over 200 new patients each year with epilepsy or possible seizures and provide follow-up treatment for many more on a long-term basis. The Center offers all available medical treatments, investigational drugs and surgical options, including brain surgery and vagal nerve stimulation. Key 2005 achievements include:
The effects of hearing loss can be profound at any age. For children, it can lead to developmental challenges as well as feelings of isolation and insecurity. The CNI Center for Hearing offers hope to even the most severely hearing impaired patients through a wide array of medical interventions and technologies, including cochlear implantation, which effectively allows the deaf to enter the hearing world. Each year, the Center performs more than 50 implant surgeries, including many on young children. The Center’s team of highly experienced specialists provides pre-operative evaluation, counseling, surgery and post-operative rehabilitation for the severe-to-profoundly hearing impaired population. The team also participates in numerous clinical studies and research projects, contributing to FDA approval for all of the cochlear implants currently on the market. Recognized as one of the top national training centers for surgeons and audiologists, the Mile-Hi Sertoma Microsurgery Lab is the only one of its kind in the Rocky Mountain region and is one of the top five microsurgery labs in the country. Through outreach and training programs, the Center’s team has taught advanced techniques to surgeons around the world. In addition to its diagnosis and treatment of neurotology disorders, the Center has developed several programs that provide ongoing aid to individuals with serious hearing impairments. The Cochlear Implant Assistance Program provides no-cost cochlear implants to candidates who are either uninsured or underinsured. The Angel Network provides implanted individuals in need of speech, language or auditory/verbal therapy with financial assistance to help cover some or all of the cost of these vital components of rehabilitation. The CNI Cochlear Kids Camps bring profoundly deaf children with cochlear implants and their families together to share success, build friendships and make connections. Since its launch in 2001, more than 2,000 participants have taken part in these four-day events held several times each year. The BAHA Assistance Program helps qualified residents suffering from single-sided deafness to receive specialized hearing devices that health insurance seldom covers. The Teen Thing provides social, recreational and educational outings for teens in the Metro Denver area who struggle with hearing loss and the challenges of adolescence. And, finally, the World Hearing Network brings together volunteer healthcare providers who are dedicated to helping alleviate hearing loss and diseases of the ear worldwide.
Movement disorders are among the most diverse and complex diseases to diagnose and treat, requiring a high degree of specialized medical expertise, advanced diagnostic technology and superior treatment capabilities. The CNI Movement Disorders Center is the Rocky Mountain region’s foremost center for the treatment and research of Parkinson’s Disease, essential tremor, Huntington’s Disease, dystonia, Tourette’s Syndrome, spasticity, restless leg syndrome and other movement disorders. The Center is recognized as a “Center of Excellence” by the Huntington’s Disease Society of America and as a National Care Center for Parkinson's Disease by the National Parkinson’s Foundation. The Center’s interdisciplinary team of highly trained physicians, nurse practitioners, nurse assistants, neuropsychologists, social workers and physical and occupational therapists provides patients with comprehensive, specialized care. In addition to the traditional treatments for movement disorders, CNI physicians are engaged in numerous clinical trials that enable patients to capitalize on the very latest developments in surgeries, medications and other forms of treatment. Key 2005 achievements include:
The CNI NeuroHealth Center continues to grow and expand its services and resources in the areas of neuro health and wellness, professional training, community education and research. Key 2005 achievements include:
The Neurotrauma Center offers early intervention and secondary prevention services to patients with mild closed-head injuries, brain aneurysm, and spinal trauma. Early intervention is essential to reducing long-term symptoms and, by rapidly assessing a patient's injuries, doctors can quickly determine the most effective treatment options for recovery. Key recent achievements include:
2007 Outcomes Report for the Neurotrauma Center:Please click on the link below to download and read the Neurotrauma Center's 2007 Outcomes Report (in PDF format). To read the reports of all 7 CNI Centers as well as the NeuroHealth Center please, click the second link. Download the 2007 Neurotrauma Center's Outcomes Report (PDF) >>
With a strong commitment to personalized, case-managed care, the CNI Neuromuscular and Peripheral Nerve Disorders Center offers a comfortable, centralized setting for the diagnosis and treatment of a wide array of disorders. The Center is distinguished not only for its treatment capabilities, but also for its philosophy of care, which focuses on in-depth involvement of the patient and family. The center’s multidisciplinary team includes neurophysiatrists (rehabilitation specialists), neuropsychologists, pain management specialists, neurosurgeons and physical, occupational and speech therapists. Currently, the center cares for more than 2,000 patients who suffer from a wide range of neuromuscular disorders, including peripheral neuropathies, myasthenia gravis, diabetic neuropathies, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), Guillain-Barre, chronic inflammatory demyelinating neuropathies, myopathies. The center also provides community outreach to peripheral nerve, Charcot-Marie-Tooth and Guillain-Barre associations in conjunction with the Denver Neuropathy Association and will establish a multidisciplinary clinic in conjunction with the Colorado ALS Association to treat ALS patients from Colorado and the surrounding states.
With the advent of today’s advanced neuroimaging techniques, an acute stroke can now be diagnosed within minutes of arrival at a hospital emergency room. Such early detection and treatment are essential—in fact, if a patient is treated within three hours of the initial onset of a stroke, its effects can often be reversed. The proven ability of Swedish Medical Center, in collaboration with the CNI Stroke Center, to deliver this exacting care has made it the recognized leader in the treatment of stroke and the first Comprehensive Stroke Center in Colorado. At the CNI Stroke Center, the emphasis is on prevention, education, risk factor modification, recognition of a stroke and post-stroke rehabilitation and support. CNI physicians provide acute treatment at Swedish Medical Center utilizing cutting-edge diagnostic imaging techniques that include MR diffusionweighted imaging (DWI), CT angiography (CTA), CT perfusion imaging (CTP) and MR perfusion imaging. These advanced resources provide the highest possible level of diagnostic accuracy, helping our physicians make rapid, well-informed treatment decisions. The Stroke Center provides essential leadership within the medical community through multiple, ongoing efforts. The Center’s Medical Director, Dr. Don Smith, co-authored the final report of the Colorado Stroke Advisory Committee to the Colorado Legislature, which concluded that approximately 80 percent of strokes are preventable if available risk factor modifiers are implemented. In addition, Dr. Smith’s Stroke Risk Disc, developed in conjunction with the National Stroke Association, continues to be a valuable tool to educate people on the potential risk of stroke and how this can be changed with the modification of preventable risk factors such as smoking and lack of exercise. Key 2005 achievements include:
CNI William McK. & Marcia N. Thompson Center for Restorative Neurosurgery: Established in 2005 through the generous contribution of the Thompson Family Foundation, this program provides comprehensive assessment and surgical treatment for patients with disabling movement disorders such as Parkinson’s Disease, essential tremor, and dystonia. The Thompson Center provides patients with an extensive baseline assessment, which includes neurosurgery, neurology, neuropsychology, and rehabilitative medicine evaluation. This is followed by an individually tailored surgical and rehabilitation program that is based on the specific requirements of each patient. The center also offers stereotactic radiosurgery for patients with small tumors in inoperable locations or small metastatic tumors. Performed as an outpatient procedure, this advanced, non-invasive technique utilizes the most advanced technology and tools available, including the Gamma Knife, and can be used alone or in conjunction with traditional surgery either pre- or post-operatively. Key 2005 highlights include:
Back to TopServices
The CNI Cranio-Facial Surgery Service provides comprehensive care to patients who have suffered trauma to the face or have tumors involving the base of the skull, head and neck. Specialized treatment is provided by a team of experienced experts, which includes neurosurgeons, ear/nose/throat specialists, plastic and reconstructive surgeons, and speech therapists.
The CNI Head Pain Center is the area's leading clinic for the treatment of headaches, migraines and face pain, such as TMJ (temporomandibular joint syndrome/disorder). The team of physicians, physical therapists, biofeedback specialists, psychologists and dentists work together to educate patients and coordinate a personalized treatment plan for each individual. Clinical research studies allow patients access to new medications and advanced therapies, including Botox injections for migraines.
The CNI Interventional Neuroradiology Service is among the area's first to offer minimally invasive treatments to patients with neurological disease, providing a viable alternative to traditional brain surgery. The advances in this area are much like those seen in the cardiology field, which now offers many cardiac patients the choice of a heart catheter rather than open-heart surgery. Interventional neuroradiologists treat patients with acute strokes, ruptured and unruptured brain aneurysms, blocked carotid arteries and arterial venous malformations (AVMs).
More than 30 million people in the U.S. suffer from sleep disorders that range from insomnia to sleep apnea to parasomnias. The CNI Sleep Disorders Center provides patients and referring physicians with a single, comprehensive resource for the complete diagnosis and treatment of most disorders, including insomnia, snoring, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome/periodic movements of sleep, sleepwalking and other parasomnias. The Center has six bedrooms equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment capabilities, including computerized data acquisition and diagnostic equipment that enables the medical staff to effectively service all outpatient and inpatient needs. One of the most critical components of the Center is the comprehensive polysomnogram-or Sleep Study-which records a patient’s sleep patterns, including activities of the heart, lungs, brain, muscle movement, airflow and blood oxygen levels. This data is analyzed by board-certified sleep specialists who then provide their findings and recommended treatment options to patients and/or their referring physicians.
The CNI Center for Voice and Swallow Disorders specializes in voice therapy and voice restoration, treating patients with general ear, nose and throat disorders, laryngitis, hoarseness, neurological disorders affecting the voice, spasmodic dysphonia, the professional voice, vocal fold motion impairment, nodules and cysts, the aging voice, reflux and swallowing difficulty. Patients receive a comprehensive evaluation in a state-of-the-art voice lab equipped with the latest voice analysis technology. |
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