Halifax Regional Hospital’s (HRH) imple-
mentation of computerized provider
order entry is right around the corner.
Scheduled for late September or early
October, Halifax electronic orders (HeO)
will allow physicians and other provid-
ers to place orders for tests, medica-
tions, therapies and other procedures
directly into the patient’s electronic
medical record.
The organization has been preparing
for this since last fall, when work groups
formed to design, build and test the
new system. Currently, super-users are
running training sessions for the more
than 800 individuals who will be using
HeO. Super-users—staff well-versed
in all aspects of HeO—will also be on
hand when the system goes into opera-
tion to assist end-users and to provide
real-time support and answers when
questions arise.
At HRH, improved patient safety and
outcomes are at the forefront of every
technological advancement. HeO sup-
ports the delivery of safe and efficient
patient care by ensuring that timely and
accurate patient information is available
to all caregivers.
NEUROLOGY
HALIFAX
Regional Health
System is pleased to announce
the opening of its newest practice,
Halifax Neurology, on the campus of
Halifax Regional Hospital.
Z. Ali Turk, MD, will begin prac-
ticing at Halifax Neurology on July 2.
Dr. Turk received his medical degree
from Isra University in Pakistan and
completed his neurology residency
and his neurophysiology fellowship
at the University of New Mexico. He
is board-eligible in neurology.
Understanding neurology
Hear the term
neurologist
and
most people think
brain
. But a neu-
rologist’s area of expertise goes be-
yond that, extending from the brain
to include the spinal cord and the
whole nervous system. Consequently,
neurologists help diagnose, treat and
manage a wide variety of conditions.
Why see a neurologist?
Your regular doctor may refer
you to a neurologist for headaches,
sleep problems, or evaluation after a
concussion or stroke.
Neurologists can also help people
with cognitive or movement disor-
ders, such as Alzheimer’s disease,
epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, mul-
tiple sclerosis or ALS (Lou Gehrig’s
disease). In fact, people with chronic
disorders such as these may see a
neurologist as their primary doctor.
And, while you may not associate
neurology with the back, neurolo-
gists also diagnose and treat injuries
Halifax Neurology
to open July 2
and disorders of the spine.
In fact, after headaches,
back pain is the most com-
mon neurological ailment
in the United States, reports
the National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and
Stroke.
Finding the problem
Neurologists use a number of
methods to help diagnose brain, spine
and other nervous system problems.
These methods can include simple
tests for mental status, coordination
and reflexes; sleep studies; analysis of
spinal fluid; and sophisticated imag-
ing tests. The tests used depend on
a person’s symptoms and the sus-
pected disorder.
Getting treatment
Depending on the specific condi-
tion, a neurologist may
recommend medications,
physical therapy or other
treatments for a disorder.
And while neurologists
may recommend surgery for brain
or spine disorders or other condi-
tions, they do not perform the
actual procedures. These are done
by neurosurgeons—physicians with
special training in performing spe-
cific types of surgeries on the brain,
spine and nerves.
Conditions treated through neu-
rosurgery may include tumors of the
brain or spinal cord, brain hemor-
rhages, and some types of chronic
pain.
Your doctor can advise you
whether seeing a neurologist or neu-
rosurgeon is appropriate for you.
Halifax goes
electronic
Technology improves
safety, efficiency
To learn more about Halifax Neurology, visit
www.hrhs.org
.
life and health
w
5
To make an appointment with
Z. Ali Turk, MD, call
434-517-8075
.