WILMINGTON, N.C. – Patients in southeastern North Carolina no longer need to travel far from home to see a multiple sclerosis specialist. While the specialty care service has actually been offered in the area for years, it became temporarily unavailable a few months ago due to a provider transition. To improve access to care, Novant Health Neurology in Wilmington welcomed Dr. Sara Klein, a neuroimmunologist, on Nov. 1. Klein specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of MS, a chronic disease that affects the central nervous system. Klein will serve as the only neuroimmunology and MS fellowship trained neurologist in the region.
“Nearly 1 million people in the United States have MS,” said Kerry Lamb, neuroscience administrator at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center. “While there is still no cure for MS, Dr. Klein will have an immediate impact on the health of patients in this community by providing high quality and localized care to help patients manage their symptoms and to slow the overall progression of the disease.”
At Novant Health Neurology, patients with multiple sclerosis can expect to receive a personalized treatment plan designed to help manage symptoms of their disease and prevent nerve damage and disability. Treatment plans may include a wide variety of therapies including physical, occupational and speech therapy, counseling, wellness support, medications and infusion treatments.
“Fortunately, research and innovation have allowed us to find new ways to manage and treat MS, that we just didn’t have 20 years ago,” said Klein. “While MS can certainly be unpredictable, our goal is to provide stability for our patients as they work to maintain a high quality of life. That work starts by making sure that the care we provide is accessible, advanced and tailored to meet each patient’s individual needs.”
Klein earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Florida and her medical degree at the University of Central Florida. She went on to complete a neurology residency program, as well as a post-residency fellowship in neuroimmunology, at the University of Chicago. She is passionate about health equity and removing barriers to care so that all patients in the community can receive the support they need.
Novant Health Neurology in Wilmington is home to 28 care providers, specializing in a wide variety of services including stroke, neuromuscular, epilepsy and seizures, headaches, movement disorders and intensive care. The team also works in close coordination with Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center and Novant Health New Hanover Rehabilitation Hospital.
The clinic will also work closely with the future Novant Health Neuroscience Institute - New Hanover. Located on the hospital’s 17th Street campus, the patient tower will offer the latest in comprehensive neurological care, neurosurgery, spine care, critical care and epilepsy monitoring.
To make an appointment at Novant Health Neurology, located at 1509 Doctors Circle Building C., call 910-662-7500. Established patients can request an appointment through their Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center MyChart account.
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