MetroHealth has cut the median time to surgery for patients with acute spinal cord injuries to 7.63 hours — 14.44 hours faster than the median national average, one of its leaders told Becker's.
The system has also reduced the relative risk for traumatic brain injury hospital mortality by 22%.
Michael Kelly, MD, chair of the department of neurosurgery at Cleveland-based MetroHealth, pointed to five operational points as keys to the system's success:
- Experienced neurotrauma specialists on call around the clock.
- Data-driven, calibrated triage and transfer protocols to improve patient access to care.
- Dedicated operating rooms for patients with brain and spine injuries.
- Early access to rehabilitation services after injury.
- Clinical trials and innovative device development for patients with traumatic brain and spine injuries.
"The MetroHealth Rehabilitation Institute begins providing care to patients with traumatic brain injury or traumatic spinal cord injury before they have even left the hospital," Victoria Whitehair, MD, director of the system's division of neurological rehabilitation and director of brain injury rehabilitation. told Becker's. "Our physiatrists and therapists start patients on their recovery journey as early as possible, often even in the ICU."
The institute houses both inpatient and outpatient neurorehabilitation services, which is designed to make it easier for patients to meet their outpatient staff and create a personalized plan before they are discharged.