SC New York News

United Health Services (UHS) has introduced an incisionless treatment for essential tremor in upstate New York, offering a new option for those living with the condition. Essential tremor, affecting about 2% of the population, often goes undiagnosed or untreated until it significantly impacts daily life. UHS is now providing Focused Ultrasound technology, making it the first healthcare system in the region to do so.

Richard Kircher, a patient at UHS, shared his experience of dealing with debilitating tremors that affected his everyday activities. “I started looking into Focused Ultrasound, and UHS was the only place in upstate New York that does it,” Mr. Kircher said. He added that other options required traveling to cities like Cleveland or Boston.

Focused Ultrasound offers an alternative to traditional invasive procedures such as Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). It uses MRI-guided sound waves to target and treat the source of the tremor in the brain without incisions or anesthesia. This allows patients to return home on the same day with minimal recovery time.

Simone Betchen, MD, MBA, Chief of Neurosciences at UHS, emphasized the benefits of this advanced technology: “UHS has the privilege of being the first and only facility that has this technology in upstate New York.” Dr. Betchen noted that they offer “higher image quality, more precise targeting and potentially reduced procedure time.”

Mr. Kircher described how Focused Ultrasound changed his life: “It's really great being able to do simple things like shaving.” He expressed surprise at how immediate the effects were.

Dr. Betchen highlighted emotional moments experienced by patients and their families after undergoing treatment. One patient who struggled with signing his name for over a decade repeatedly signed it post-procedure because he hadn't seen it for so long.

The accessibility of Focused Ultrasound extends to older adults as there is no upper age limit for treatment; Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurers cover it. However, awareness remains low among potential candidates.

“The shame is that most people don’t know about it,” Mr. Kircher stated regarding public awareness of Focused Ultrasound's benefits.

March marks National Essential Tremor Awareness Month—an opportunity for UHS to promote this treatment further as many remain unaware they have essential tremor due its underdiagnosis rate.

Those interested can contact UHS for screening advice if medications prove ineffective against symptoms impacting daily life routines.