Essential tremors are a common movement disorder that affects about ten million Americans. However, UHS is bringing a new solution to help patients with this disorder, an incisionless-focused ultrasound treatment.

"We can deliver MRI-guided sound energy waves to the area of the brain and make a therapeutic lesion that can ameliorate the tremor," Dr. Simone Betchen said. 

Because the program is an incision-less outpatient procedure, patients will see a much faster recovery time and go home the same day as the treatment.

Betchen says it's a one-time treatment with immediate results, helping patients who might not be able to see doctors regularly. 

"It's instant tremor relief with lower risks of side effects that are often temporary," Betchen said. "It's lasting effects. And I think those are the biggest benefits for the patients."

Betchen says this new treatment plan gives patients another option other than medications, as she states only 50% of medications are effective in 60% of patients. 

"Having this new treatment gives those patients an option," Betchen said. ''There is a belief that there are probably many patients who are undiagnosed or undertreated that we would like to make them aware

UHS is the first and only healthcare system in upstate New York to offer this new treatment. 

"We'll be the only site in New York state to have this latest version of the treatment, which allows us to have more effective targeting and hopefully shorter treatment times that make it safer," Betchen said. 

UHS is now scheduling in-person and virtual appointments for screenings.