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Neurologist joins NBI medical staff

Until the early 1990s, a treatment for the disease multiple sclerosis did not exist. Today, there are options.

According to Dr. Elizabeth Harper, new neurologist at North Baldwin Infirmary, options will continue to expand for patients suffering from neurologic conditions.

“The field of neurology is one of the few branches of medicine where physicians are still seeing major advances in how diseases are treated,” Dr. Harper said.

Describing most neurologic conditions as chronic, she explained that the way symptoms progress over time can provide important clues to a diagnosis. At an initial visit with Dr. Harper, patients can expect a thorough discussion of their symptoms, a review of medications, and a comprehensive examination of their eye movements, strength, sensation, reflexes, coordination and cognitive function.

“This kind of evaluation is really unique to the practice of neurology,” Dr. Harper said. “There are very few specialists in medicine who focus, as much as a neurologist does, to spend time with the patient.”

Dr. Harper said the most important tool for any neurologist is the physical examination, which includes the use of special tools like an ophthalmoscope to examine the optic nerves that connect the eyes to the brain, a reflex hammer to measure tendon reflexes, and a tuning fork to test sensation. Another diagnostic exam that may be necessary is an electroencephalogram (EEG) test, which measures electrical brain activity to detect seizures.

“A patient’s history and physical exam together will help determine whether further tests are needed and what medications might be helpful,” Dr. Harper said.

A MRI scan, nerve conduction test or electromyography used to evaluate the health of the connections between peripheral nerves and muscles are additional tests Dr. Harper may order.

“I find that patients with chronic neurologic conditions are inspiring and I feel very lucky to get to interact with so many of them everyday.”

Expertise in the evaluation and treatment of multiple sclerosis is only one of Dr. Harper’s specialties. She also provides evaluation and treatment of stroke, epilepsy, dementia, migraines and other headache symptoms, Parkinson’s disease, disorders associated with movement, peripheral neuropathy and post-herpetic neuralgia, brain tumors, and myasthenia gravis.

She earned her medical degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her internship in internal medicine and her residency in neurology were completed at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, which is where she was awarded the James True Martin prize for excellence and compassion in patient care.

Dr. Harper sees child and adult patients at the North Baldwin Infirmary Outpatient Clinic. For appointment information, call 344-2762.