BMC’s Yawkey building doors are now closed as an entrance as part of our ongoing efforts to enhance our campus and provide you with the best clinical care.

All patients and visitors on our main campus must enter our hospital via Shapiro, Menino, or Moakley buildings, where they will be greeted by team members at a new centralized check-in desk before continuing to the hospital. We are excited to welcome you and appreciate your patience as we improve our facilities.

Deep Brain Stimulation Program

The Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Program provides treatment for Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, and dystonia using brain implants. The DBS system sends electrical pulses to the part of the brain that controls movement, which can help reduce symptoms.

This interdisciplinary program includes neurosurgery, neurology, neuropsychiatry, behavioral medicine, anesthesiology, and nursing, providing state-of-the-art care for patients.

A multi-step screening process is used to select patients for this procedure. Patients may qualify for surgery if they:

  • Do not have good movement control despite medical therapy
  • Have dyskinesia or other side effects that limit the use of Parkinson's medications
  • Patients are referred by their neurologist for a screening consultation by the DBS team members. This involves a brain MRI, neuropsychological testing, and movement testing with videotaping.

Test results are reviewed by a panel of movement disorder specialists before referral to a neurosurgeon for further evaluation. The patient will also be evaluated by the DBS neurosurgeon.

Patients who receive deep brain stimulation will get continued care within our program. To learn more about the DBS Program and this treatment, click here.