Jacksonville, Fla. -- The Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis Center at Shands Jacksonville provides expertise in the latest cutting-edge development in multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment and research all in one place.
The center is unique from any other in Jacksonville as MS patients can be treated under one roof and don't have to be referred to other physicians for specific health issues, such as loss of vision or urinary complications, associated with this disorder. The Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis Center at Shands Jacksonville is dedicated to diagnosing, treating and educating MS patients, as well as conducting clinical drug trials and researching new treatment techniques.
"MS is a disorder that deserves to be treated in a comprehensive fashion because it's associated with a multitude of physical, cognitive, emotional and functional impairments," said the center's medical director Scott Silliman, M.D., a board-certified neurologist and a University of Florida associate professor of neurology.
The Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis Center center combines on-site physical, occupational and behavioral therapy with state-of-the-art medical treatment to manage MS and its associated symptoms in an environment where patients receive the most comprehensive medical care to achieve the best possible outcome.
The center also offer's one of only two accredited registered nurse practitioners in the city with a specialty in MS. Jan Daniel, MSN, ARNP, brings 17 years of experience to the center. She received a bachelor's degree in nursing from Jacksonville University and a master's in nursing from the University of Florida.
Approximately 1,600 people in northeast Florida have been diagnosed with MS, a chronic disorder of the central nervous system that decreases nerve function. Women are affected more commonly than men with this disorder, which typically begins between 20 and 40 years of age.
The Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis Center at Shands Jacksonville is located within The Neuroscience Institute on the ninth floor, Tower I on the Shands Jacksonville campus. A support group, Meeting the Challenges of MS, meets the first Friday of every month at 1 p.m.