Identifying candidates for deep brain stimulation in Parkinson's disease: the role of the primary care physician.
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) can improve symptoms in well-selected patients with Parkinson's disease. Primary care physicians must take into account many important issues when considering referral for DBS. The Florida Surgical Questionnaire for PD (FLASQ-PD), a 5-section screening tool that can help primary care providers identify appropriate DBS candidates, can be filled out and scored by a general practitioner, advanced clinical nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or trained nurse. Potential candidates who score well on this questionnaire can be referred for presurgical multidisciplinary evaluation at an experienced DBS implanting center.
Okun
Michael S
MS
Department of Neurology, University of Florida Movement Disorders Center, McKnight Brain Institute, Gainesville, USA.
Fernandez
Hubert H
HH
Rodriguez
Ramon L
RL
Foote
Kelly D
KD
D000075202:Contraindications; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation; D006801:Humans; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D018579:Patient Selection; D010819:Physician's Role; D010821:Physicians, Family; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires