Fast Track Surgical Evaluation Program Streamlines Movement Disorder Care at Hackensack University Medical Center

Patients benefit from a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, single-day evaluation designed to determine eligibility for focused ultrasound or deep brain stimulation surgery for Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor and dystonia

January 15, 2026

The Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute at Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) established a Fast Track Surgical Evaluation program to streamline the evaluation process for people considering surgery for Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor and dystonia.

The program allows candidates for surgical treatment with deep brain stimulation (DBS) or focused ultrasound (FUS) to receive a thorough evaluation by specialists in neurology, neurosurgery, neuropsychology, physical therapy and speech therapy in a convenient, single-day visit at one location.

“Our Fast Track program allows patients to receive an expedited confirmation of diagnosis, a comprehensive evaluation by relevant specialists and a treatment plan developed by the consensus of the multidisciplinary team,” said Umer Akbar, M.D., director of the Movement Disorders Program at Hackensack University Medical Center and professor of Neurology at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. “At other centers, this process can take up to six months. However, at HUMC, we can achieve this thorough evaluation in a single-day, at one location.”

During the visit, patients meet with an evaluation team that includes experts in movement disorder neurology, functional neurosurgery, neuropsychology, speech and swallowing therapy and physical therapy.

Dedicated neurology social workers and registered nurses also participate in the evaluation process, ensuring that patients and their loved ones have access to the resources they need to provide the best chance of a smooth recovery.

“After the evaluation is complete, our movement disorder team meets to discuss whether DBS or FUS surgery would benefit the patient,” said Dr. Akbar. “If surgery is recommended, our team will recommend the most beneficial procedure and approach based on the patient’s individual needs.”

HUMC will soon launch a Functional Neurological Disorder Program specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of functional neurological symptoms not caused by an underlying neurological or medical condition, such as limb weakness, difficulty speaking or swallowing, seizures or vision and hearing problems. Similar to the Fast Track program, this interprofessional program partners neurology, counseling psychology, neuropsychology, psychiatry, social work and neurorehabilitation specialists together to design custom treatment programs tailored to patient symptoms and severity.

Learn more about innovative neurological care at Hackensack University Medical Center.