Comprehensive Care at The John L. Trotter MS Center

MS is a disease that attacks the white matter of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). Thus it can cause a wide variety of symptoms which vary from patient to patient. Different affected regions require different specialties to help the neurologist help their patients. The physicians at the John L. Trotter MS Center regularly refer patients to specialists from many disciplines in order to provide the comprehensive care required to optimize physical function. Some of the more common disciplines include: Urology, Psychiatry, Psychology and NeuroPsychology, Physiatry, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Nursing, Radiology, Social Services, Spiritual care and Internal Medicine. We also work closely with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The neurologists at Washington University have selected experts from each of these fields and others who have become familiar with the special needs of MS patients as part of our team.

Facilities: The majority of our services are provided on an outpatient basis at the Center for Advanced Medicine, located at the corner of Forest Park Parkway and Euclid Avenue. Patients are seen at the Neuroscience Center located on the 6th floor. Patients are also seen on the lower level of the McMillan Building at 517 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis MO, 63110.

Occasionally our patients require inpatient admission to receive IV steroids or other services. Patients are hospitalized at Barnes-Jewish Hospital at Washington University. This facility provides comprehensive services, including a 56 bed neurology unit and a 20-bed, state-of-the-art intensive care unit. Barnes-Jewish Hospital has been rated among the top ten in the nation for many years. Patients not requiring hospitalization are generally referred to the Minor Procedure Center at the Center for Advanced Medicine to receive steroids and other infusion therapies.

In addition, patients are routinely referred to The Rehab Institute of St. Louis for specialized physical, occupational and speech therapy services that can be provided on both an inpatient and outpatient basis. We are also able to arrange for home health, subacute care, extended care and home medical equipment for our patients, as insurance allows.

The John L. Trotter MS Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital also recognizes its responsibility to provide for the medically indigent, a long standing tradition at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. The MS Clinic, which is supported in part by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, is supervised by MS Center Neurologists and staffed by Barnes-Jewish Hospital resident physicians.