Elevating Patient Care: Breaking New Ground in Neuroscience

Elevating Patient Care: Breaking New Ground in Neuroscience

Delivering this level of neuroscience care requires updated equipment and facilities, advanced services and technologies, and having more specialists available 24/7. To make this vision a reality, PHF has a working goal to raise $5million in the next three years to support additional investment in technology, training and personnel.

INVESTING IN TECHNOLOGY AND TALENT

Several donors have alreadystepped up to support theexpanded neuroscienceprogram, making it possiblefor Presbyterian to implement

Phase 1 of the multi-year initiative. This includes implementation of a complete spinal and cranial navigation system at Presbyterian Hospital and a pilot program for tele-neurology and telestroke capabilities that will make it possible to expand important access for patients at Presbyterian’s regional hospitals.

Spinal and cranial navigation is a combination of software and hardware that integrates with CT scans and MRIs to direct where screws and cutting devices are placed. In combination with its own capital contribution, PHF has leveraged donor gifts to purchase an O-arm™ Surgical Imaging System for spine, orthopedic trauma and neurological procedures.

Julia Bowdich and John Carey Chair of Neuroscience, Gregory T. Sherr, MD, MPH, has already begun using the O-arm to treat patients.

“The O-arm machine is brought in once the incision is made and provides a near CT quality scan of the bones of the spine. This is uploaded to a navigation system that shows the surgeon the safest place to put the screw. The system then helps keep the surgeon on that precise path as the screw is placed,” Dr. Sherr explains.

“Over time, the surgical team becomes so proficient at using the O-arm that we can often shave off an hour from a surgery, especially in complex cases like scoliosis. We are grateful for this investment in technology.”

With these types of advanced tools and technologies in place, Presbyterian can better recruit and retain leading specialists, especially neurologists and neurosurgeons, for the long term. In addition to Dr. Sherr, neurosurgeons Jose Santos,

MD, Mark Bryniarski, MD, and Jorge Gonzales-Cruz, MD, along with physician assistants Ryan Gear and Janet Miller, have joined the team. Recruitment for additional staff continues.

EXPANDING ACCESS

While neurosciences care will be centralized at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque, Phase1 also includes a pilot project for initiating the expansion of tele-neurology and tele-stroke capabilities. These virtual services will allow patients to receive care at their local hospitals instead of traveling to Albuquerque or other areas for care, simultaneously reducing patient capacity pressure at Presbyterian Hospital’s ICU.

Phase 2 will include the creation of a dedicated Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit. The unit will initially have six beds for neurology/stroke and complex spine and brain patients, with plans to expand to 20 beds.