Steven Wengel, M.D., professor and chairman, University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Psychiatry, and Carl Greiner, M.D., UNMC professor of psychiatry, will speak to physicians in Holdrege on Nov. 7, McCook, Ogallala and North Platte on Nov. 8 and in Kearney on Nov. 9. Drs. Wengel and Greiner will present continuing medical education programs on a cognitive condition called frontal lobe dysfunction.
On Nov. 7 they will tour the Phelps County Hospital in Holdrege and present a program at 6:30 p.m. On Nov. 8, they will present programs at 7 a.m. in McCook at McCook Community Hospital, at noon in Ogallala at Ogallala Community Hospital and at 6:30 p.m. in North Platte at the Holiday Inn Express. On Nov. 9 they will tour Good Samaritan Health System in Kearney and present a program to physicians at noon.
In addition, the UNMC psychiatrists also will make themselves available to talk to the media about the status of Nebraska’s behavioral health reform and using the telehealth network to close the gaps in providing care.
Frontal lobe dysfunction can occur either when the frontal lobes are damaged or other deep matter in the brain and results in vulnerable brain. This damage can result in the reduction of the ability to solve problems or socially inappropriate behavior, or financial indiscretions or impaired driving. People with frontal lobe dysfunction may have suffered a head injury, or are elderly and in the early stages of dementia, or suffer from more severe mental disorders, like schizophrenia. Dr. Greiner said people with vulnerable brains are more likely to make poor decisions and can be more easily deceived.
"Frontal lobe dysfunction is common but not well understood. We’re interested in sharing how to recognize cognitive impairment early so that the patient gets the necessary health care he or she needs, and to protect them from undue influence, and avoid accidents and falls," Dr. Greiner said. "This is part of our commitment to provide information on important mental health care issues, our department would like to plan similar trips in the future on a variety of important mental health topics."
Dr. Wengel, chairman of the UNMC Department of Psychiatry, is dedicated to all levels of education. Since 1994, Dr. Wengel has been a consultant for geriatric cases at the Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center in Omaha. He received his medical degree from UNMC in 1986, then remained to complete a residency in psychiatry in 1990 and a fellowship in geropsychiatry in 1991. Dr. Wengel’s research focuses on geriatric mental health issues, such as Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety disorders and depression.
Dr. Greiner received his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati where he did his psychiatry residency. He is board certified in psychiatry and neurology with special qualifications in forensic psychiatry. He practices adult and forensic psychiatry, which deals with issues of cognitive impairment and how that can result in legal problems.
UNMC is the only public health science center in the state. Its educational programs are responsible for training more health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other institution. Through their commitment to education, research, patient care and outreach, UNMC and its hospital partner, The Nebraska Medical Center, have established themselves as one of the country’s leading centers in cancer, transplantation biology, bioterrorism preparedness, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, genetics, biomedical technology and ophthalmology. UNMC’s research funding from external sources now exceeds $80 million annually and has resulted in the creation of more than 2,400 highly skilled jobs in the state. UNMC’s physician practice group, UNMC Physicians, includes more than 460 physicians in 50 specialties and subspecialties who practice primarily in The Nebraska Medical Center. For more information, go to UNMC’s Web site at www.unmc.edu.