Neuropsychology

Neuropsychology at Wellstar

Broadly, neuropsychologists are brain-behavior experts. This means that neuropsychologists can be helpful in diagnosing neurocognitive conditions, understanding their impact, and providing treatment recommendations aimed at maximizing functioning, quality of life, and overall brain-health. 

Neuropsychologists are experts in assessment and treatment of neurocognitive conditions. Considering this board skill-set, neuropsychologists operate in a variety setting throughout a health system. Presently, at Wellstar, our neuropsychologists conduct adult and pediatric neuropsychological evaluations in outpatient setting, as well as provide both outpatient and inpatient rehabilitation services. 

Across services we treat the person not just the diagnosis and have an appreciation for the multitude of factors that can impact neurocognitive functioning and quality of life. We provide a comfortable environment and serve with the empathy and compassion we would have for a family member.  

Outpatient Neuropsychological Evaluations
Patients with a wide range of neurological conditions and cognitive difficulties are often referred for neuropsychological evaluations. Neuropsychological evaluations are the standard for assessing neurocognitive functioning. These evaluations involve a detailed record review, interview with the patient and collateral (often family or close friends) where history and the nature of concerns are discussed, and several hours of testing to assess aspects of cognition such as memory, problem solving, attention, speed, language, spatial ability. Assessment of motor skills, mood, and behavior is also incorporated. Tests are interactive and involve working on puzzles and questionnaires. 

The neuropsychological evaluation determines the nature, severity, and cause of cognitive problems with the aim of providing education and treatment recommendations. Recommendations maximize functioning, quality of life, and overall brain-health. More specifically, the evaluation may help a doctor prescribe the most beneficial medication, provide resources for support or therapies, or provide strategies to compensate for cognitive weaknesses while maximizing strengths. 

Adult Services 18+ (Tower Road Office and Merchants Station Office): Referred patients are often experiences cognitive, behavioral, or mood symptoms due to a wide of neurological and neurodegenerative conditions that include Alzheimer’s disease, parkinsonian conditions such as Lewy Body Dementia, frontal temporal lobe dementias, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, and stroke.

Pediatric Services (Merchants Station Office): Our pediatric neuropsychological services are expanding and soon to a larger integrated pediatric suite on the 3rd floor of the Merchants Station outpatient building. Referred patients are often experiences cognitive, behavioral, or mood symptoms due to a wide include a range of neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., cerebral palsy, prematurity, perinatal stroke, hydrocephalus, FASD), genetic conditions (e.g., Down's syndrome, NF1), neurological conditions (e.g., seizures, multiple sclerosis), acquired brain injury (e.g., stroke, traumatic brain injury), and specific learning disabilities (SLD). 

Neurorehabilitation
Neuropsychologists provide critical support to multidisciplinary teams, patients, and families in neurorehabilitation settings. Our neuropsychologists are skilled at performing bedside assessments and performing inpatient and outpatient interventions to promote recovery. Additionally, neuropsychologists are experts at providing education about a person’s cognitive, behavioral, and psychological functioning following an acquired brain injury. Education is essential for optimum outcomes and recovery. 

Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit (IRU)
Neuropsychologists are integrated into the IRU at Wellstar Kennestone Medical Center, a 633-bed hospital. In 2022, the IRU was ranked #32 in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. In this setting, neuropsychologists serve patients with acquired brain injuries (mostly post-acute stroke) but also includes individuals with spinal cord injuries, complex orthopedic injuries, amputation, and other neurological or medically complex conditions. Neuropsychologists work in a multidisciplinary team and conduct bedside neurobehavioral evaluations and brief interventions for mood and behavior management. Neuropsychologists provide family/caregiver interventions (e.g., caregiver support groups, family education lectures, individual family education/training). Neuropsychology is excited to be expanding inpatient rehabilitation services to our Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center.

Outpatient Neurorehabilitation
Our neuropsychologists serve Community Re-Entry (CRE) outpatient program on the Kennestone Medical Center campus. The CRE is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary rehabilitation program for individuals who have been diagnosed with an ABI and have moderate to severe functional deficits and behavioral/psychosocial issues impacting rehabilitation. As part of the multidisciplinary team, neuropsychologists provide individual and family education as well as interventions for patients and their families. Neuropsychologists also conduct individual and group therapy sessions with neurorehabilitation patients.