About NeuroStar® TMS Therapy
NeuroStar Advanced Therapy targets key areas of the brain that are underactive in people with depression by using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The leading scientific theory for the cause of depression is that, while the exact cause is unknown, it is thought to be caused by an imbalance of the brain's neurotransmitters. What are neurotransmitters? They are the chemical messengers that send signals between brain cells.
Life Changing Non-Drug Depression Treatment
With sessions conducted right in our clinic in SW Sioux Falls, our patients have experienced positive changes soon after beginning NeuroStar TMS Therapy treatments. If you have tried anti-depression medications and are still battling chronic depression, TMS may be a good treatment option for you.
Patients
Why should you choose MWI Health for NeuroStar Advanced Therapy (TMS)?
MWI Health’s TMS therapy is administered by our qualified team of caring treaters led by psychiatrist Dr. Clay Pavlis. A magnet similar in strength to one used in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine is used during a NeuroStar treatment session to stimulate nerve cells in the area of the brain believed to control mood. These magnetic pulses make long-term remission from depression possible by having a positive effect on the brain’s neurotransmitter levels.
Providers
Make a Patient Referral
Our goal is for patients to be able to live their best life. If you have a patient who may benefit from TMS Therapy, please contact us at mwihealth.org@gmail.com or call 605.573.2000, and ask for Kathy. It is our goal to augment current mental health treatment plans, not replace them, and TMS patients have the best long term success when they are encouraged to continue with their current provider and simply add TMS therapy. We highly recommend continued mental health care and follow ups and Dr Pavlis will gladly meet with providers to discuss how referring patients for TMS treatment benefits the mental health community as a whole.
Your TMS Journey Can Begin Today.
TMS is a life changing non-drug depression treatment option, and the process can start as soon as you choose to reach out to us.
- Step One of your Journey
- Schedule an initial consultation or talk with our staff over the phone to determine that you are eligible for TMS treatment
- Step Two
- Fill out the patient paperwork in our patient portal to start the process of determining your insurance eligibility and for us to review your history to explore whether TMS Therapy is an effective treatment option for you.
- Step Three
- Schedule your treatment plan with our TMS Coordinator
- Step Four
- Your mapping appointment and first treatment session will be completed by Dr Clay Pavlis.
- Step Five
- Thirty-six treatment sessions with our trained TMS treaters in our office Monday-Friday for approximately 30 minutes, with regular check-in visits to monitor progress by Jennifer Pipitone, DNP, PMHNP or Clay Pavlis, M.D., Psychiatrist.
Visits to our office can work for even the busiest of clients, because you are awake and alert during treatment and can resume normal activities immediately afterwards.
How NeuroStar® TMS Therapy Works
Here’s what you can expect from a NeuroStar Advanced Therapy (TMS) session:
- Before Treatment
- You’ll recline comfortably in the TMS treatment chair while a small, curved magnetic coil will be positioned lightly on your head.
- During Treatment
- NeuroStar Advanced Therapy delivers focused magnetic stimulation directly to the target areas of the brain. A clicking sound will be heard, along with a sensation of tapping on your head.
- After Treatment
- Depending on your doctor’s recommendation, each NeuroStar Advanced Therapy session takes between 19 and 37 minutes.
You can resume normal activities immediately, even driving yourself to and from treatment sessions because there are no effects on alertness or memory.
In-office NeuroStar TMS Therapy treatment typically takes 19-37 minutes and is administered 5 days a week for approximately 4-6 weeks.
NeuroStar is easy for Patients & the #1 choice of doctors
Making long-term remission possible, TMS therapy sessions are conducted in our Sioux Falls clinic while you are awake throughout the treatment. You can return to normal activities right away, with no negative effects on memory or sleep. It's safe and easy to tolerate, and has patented precision technology to ensure you receive the right dose to the right location, every time, and TMS Therapy treatment is covered by most health insurance plans, which makes it easy for patients to get the help they need. With more than three million treatments delivered and the #1 TMS choice of doctors, this treatment approach is an innovative method to achieve remission and bring new hope to people every day.
A TMS Team that Respects Every Patient
At MWI Health, our experienced team gives each patient the attention and respect that they deserve. Our patients are not simply a number to us, and we are pleased to be able to offer NeuroStar TMS Therapy to people in the Sioux Falls area so they may get the alternative treatment for depression that they have been searching for.
Clay J. Pavlis, M.D., Psychiatrist
With over five years of transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment experience and a wealth of knowledge in psychiatric care, Dr. Pavlis leads our team to provide a safe and effective non-drug treatment to help patients reach their mental health goals.
Kathy Howard, NeuroStar TMS Coordinator
With a "patient first" mentality, our TMS Coordinator guides potential patients through the process of learning more about our NeuroStar Advanced Therapy program, the process for treatment, scheduling them for a medical evaluation, submitting prior authorizations to insurance payors, and scheduling the patient for mapping and treatment, all while treating each individual with the respect they deserve. Contact Kathy at 605-573-2000 to schedule your free introductory consultation today.
NeuroStar Advanced Therapy targets key areas of the brain that are underactive in people with depression by using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The leading scientific theory for the cause of depression is that, while the exact cause is unknown, it is thought to be caused by an imbalance of the brain’s neurotransmitters. What are neurotransmitters? They are the chemical messengers that send signals between brain cells.
TMS Testimonials
TMS Clinical Trials & Academic Studies
1.
Carpenter LL, et al. (2012). Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for Major
Depression: A Multisite, Naturalistic, Observational Study of Acute Treatment Outcomes in Clinical Practice. Depression and Anxiety, 29(7):587-596.
https://bit.ly/3qrgaUO
2.
George MS, et al. (2010). Daily Left Prefrontal Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy for Major Depressive Disorder: A Sham-Controlled Randomized Trial. Arch Gen Psychiatry, 67(5):507-516. https://bit.ly/3gVYEF9
3.
Dunner DL, et al. (2014). A Multisite, Naturalistic, Observational Study of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for Patients with Pharmacoresistant Major Depressive Disorder: Durability of Benefit Over a 1-Year Follow-Up Period. J Clin Psychiatry. 75(12):1394-1401. https://bit.ly/3vXEX43
4.
O’Reardon JP, et al. (2007). Efficacy and Safety of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in the Acute Treatment of Major Depression: A Multisite Randomized Controlled Trial. Biol Psychiatry, 62(11):1208-1216. https://bit.ly/3vRfcT6
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation?
Transcranial magnetic stimulation, often referred to as TMS is a noninvasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of depression. TMS is typically used when antidepressant medications haven’t been effective, have ceased working, or as an alternative to medication.
How does TMS work?
TMS involves delivering magnetic pulses to specific parts of the brain.
How long is TMS treatment?
A typical initial course of treatment is about 19-37 minutes daily over 4-6 weeks.
Is TMS Therapy covered by my insurance?
A vast majority of commercial and Medicare plans have recognized the effectiveness of treating depression with TMS Therapy and now cover TMS as part of their plans.
Is TMS Therapy a good alternative for patients who cannot tolerate the side effects of
antidepressant medications?
TMS does not circulate in the blood throughout the body, so it does not have side effects like weight gain, sexual dysfunction, nausea, dry mouth, sedation, etc. The most common side effects reported during clinical trials were headache and scalp discomfort —generally mild to moderate—occurring less frequently after the first week of treatment.
Is TMS Therapy like other alternative therapies that use magnets to treat some illnesses?
No. TMS Therapy involves a unique method of using pulsed magnetic fields for a therapeutic benefit. The intensity of the magnetic field is similar to that of an MRI. These techniques differ radically from the popular use of low intensity, static magnetic fields. Those products deliver weak and undirected static fields that are not capable of activating brain cells. The activation and stimulation of brain cells is a key part of why TMS is so effective.
