Covenant Medical Center, part of Covenant Health, is now offering brain stimulation treatments for movement disorders, aiming to improve patient outcomes and restore independence for individuals with conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy. Dr. Katie Hendley, a neurologist at the center, emphasized the significance of this development.
"Thankfully we are part of an organization that supports expanding the services we can offer our patients and bring back their quality of life," said Hendley. "Any time that we can improve tremors, the way people move and the way they live, giving them more time with family, more time to travel, it improves their overall health and wellness. We're grateful to be able to provide new therapies and new techniques to our toolbox."
Covenant Health has become the first provider in West Texas and eastern New Mexico to offer deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy for patients with movement disorders including Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, and dystonia. The surgical program is led by Dr. Hendley and Neurosurgeon Dr. Robert Scranton. They recently completed the region’s first DBS implantation on a 71-year-old Parkinson’s patient. According to Covenant Health, this procedure has already improved tremor control and quality of life for the patient.
The Parkinson’s Foundation reports that nearly one million Americans live with Parkinson’s disease, a figure expected to rise to 1.2 million by 2030. This disorder primarily affects motor function, causing symptoms like tremors and stiffness. Treatments such as DBS are becoming increasingly important in managing these symptoms.
Deep brain stimulation is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating several neurological conditions including essential tremor, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, and dystonia. The Cleveland Clinic explains that DBS involves implanting electrodes in specific areas of the brain to modulate abnormal activity through electrical signals.
Dr. Hendley is a board-certified neurologist specializing in movement disorders at Covenant Health. She co-leads the DBS program at Covenant Medical Center focusing on advanced neurological interventions.
Covenant Health serves West Texas and eastern New Mexico through a network of hospitals, clinics, and specialty care services as part of its non-profit healthcare mission. Affiliated with Providence—one of the largest health systems in the United States—Covenant Health is recognized for pioneering access to advanced medical treatments in its service area.
