Providence Brain Institute - eNeuro

Looking ahead and looking back

Bonnie W. Smith

Program director, Providence Brain Institute and Regional Neurosciences

As we welcome a new year, it’s exciting to see what opportunities lie ahead. But first, let’s take a moment to celebrate what we’ve accomplished. In 2010 Providence Brain Institute achieved some significant advances, including expanding a statewide telestroke program, broadening our base of medical specialists and developing more state-of-the-art technology.

The intraoperative MRI at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, still the most advanced on the West Coast, just finished its first full year of serving patients. Its benefits already are being measured. In about a quarter of all cases, MRI scans taken mid-surgery revealed hidden portions of diseased tissue that might have gone undetected.

Telestroke has grown to include nine hospitals, plus four confirmed hospitals to launch early 2011. Remote-presence devices are now in place at:

• Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach
• Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital
• Providence Milwaukie Hospital
• Providence Medford Medical Center
• Providence Newberg Medical Center
• Providence Portland Medical Center
• Providence St. Vincent Medical Center
• Providence Seaside Hospital
• Silverton Hospital

Confirmed hospitals with telestroke coming soon are:

• Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center
• Tillamook County General Hospital
• Ocean Beach Hospital in Ilwaco, Wash.
• St. Anthony Hospital in Pendleton

The past year Providence Brain Institute also dramatically expanded our medical expertise. We welcomed new physicians and surgeons specializing in multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, peripheral neuropathies, neurointerventional procedures and neurosurgery, orthopedic spine surgery, and general and pediatric neurology.

As we begin 2011, we continue to focus on clinical excellence, coordinated and appropriate care, research, prevention and statewide outreach.

In February, a new neuro bi-plane lab will begin serving patients at Providence Portland Medical Center. With labs at both Providence Portland and Providence St. Vincent, we offer more options to patients needing endovascular procedures. The lab at Providence St. Vincent also will be upgraded to match the precision of the new lab.

As we expand many of our programs and services, we will continue to:

• Emphasize conservative spine therapies
• Expand Parkinson’s disease care, including presurgical consultation and monitoring of deep brain stimulators
• Lead in advanced diagnostics and treatment for epilepsy
• Grow our multiple sclerosis program with new physicians, and continue to develop our
  MS registry
• Invest in stroke services with the goal of reducing Oregon’s disproportionate stroke death rate

Through this newsletter, Providence Brain Institute looks forward to 2011 and to continuing to offer the expertise and insight to ensure the best possible outcomes for your patients.