Becker's Healthcare named the following organizations to the 2018 edition of its list "100 hospitals and health systems with great neurosurgery and spine programs."
The organizations featured on this year's list have extensive neuroscience and spine programs, providing treatment and cutting edge research into neurosurgical disorders. Many hospitals and health systems featured have earned top honors for medical excellence, outcomes and patient experience in their spine and brain surgery departments.
To develop this list, the Becker's Healthcare editorial team examined national rankings and awards for neurosurgery, neurological care and spine surgery. The editorial team examined U.S. News & World Report national rankings for neurology and neurosurgery; CareChex national and regional rankings for neurological care and Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery designation to develop this list. Please contact Laura Dyrda at ldyrda@beckershealthcare.com with any questions about this list.
Note: Hospitals cannot pay for inclusion on this list. Organizations are presented in alphabetical order.
Abbott Northwestern Hospital (Minneapolis). Abbott Northwestern's Neuroscience Institute is one of the leading providers of neurological care for patients in the Upper Midwest. Specialists perform more than 2,000 major neurological surgeries and 1,000-plus neurointerventional procedures per year. Abbott Northwestern was ranked the No. 42 hospital on U.S. News & World Report's top 50 best hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery for 2018-19. It was also ranked among the nation's top 50 quality hospitals for medical excellence in neurological surgery for 2019 by CareChex.
Advocate Christ Medical Center (Oak Lawn, Ill.). Advocate Christ Medical Center is a 788-bed academic teaching hospital with 1,500-plus affiliated physicians. It is part of Advocate Aurora Health, which was formed through the merger of Downers Grove, Ill.-based Advocate Health Care and Milwaukee-based Aurora Health in April. Providers at the Advocate Brain & Spine Institute at Christ Medical Center provide treatment for a range of neurological and spine conditions. The hospital is home of one of eight designated National Multiple Sclerosis Society treatment centers in Illinois. It also maintains a neurocritical care unit staffed by a team of neurointensivists, neurologists and neurosurgeons, among others.
Baptist Health South Florida (Miami). The Baptist Health Neuroscience Center is a 48-bed inpatient center created in 2001 to diagnose and treat patients with complex brain, spine and nervous system conditions. The center also maintains several branches of interdisciplinary research examining how to prevent patient falls and several spine diseases and disorders. The neuroscience center was granted comprehensive stroke center certification from the Joint Commission and is consistently ranked in the top 10th percentile of hospitals and health systems named to the U.S. News & World Report Honor Roll.
Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University (St. Louis). Barnes-Jewish Hospital's neurosurgery services are performed in one of five dedicated operating rooms equipped to host multiple procedures, including trauma care. The hospital is also home to a 20-bed neurointensive care unit, one of the largest in the nation. The Barnes-Jewish & Washington University Spine Center receives patient referrals from around the world, and is also one of the largest practices of its kind in the U.S. The institution was ranked No. 7 hospital on U.S. News & World Report's top 50 best hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery list for 2018-19.
Baylor University Medical Center (Dallas). The Baylor Neuroscience Center is a high patient volume program operated by specialists and practitioners who have performed thousands of procedures during their careers at Baylor. The neuroscience center houses the Baylor Dallas Epilepsy Program, a designated level 3 epilepsy center and a comprehensive headache center. Blue Cross Blue Shield Association named Baylor University Medical Center a Blue Distinction Center+ for spine surgery. The 914-bed hospital was also named among America's top quality hospitals 2019 by CareChex for medical excellence in neurological surgery.
Beaumont Hospital-Royal Oak (Mich.). The 1,100-bed Beaumont Hospital-Royal Oak is part of Royal Oak-based Beaumont Health. In 2014, the hospital opened its $22 million Neuroscience Center comprising 11 hospital-based clinics. That same year, the center earned its spine surgery specialty certification from the Joint Commission and performed 2,100 surgeries. Beaumont Hospital-Royal Oak was ranked No. 25 on U.S. News & World Report's top 50 best hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery for 2018-19. The facility is also a Blue Cross Blue Shield Association- designated Blue Distinction Center+ for spine surgery.
Boston Children's Hospital. Established in 1929, Boston Children's neurosurgery department was among the first hospitals in the world to focus on pediatric neurosurgery as an individual specialty. The hospital was the first in the nation to introduce MRIs in the neurosurgical operating room. Physicians at the institution were instrumental in pioneering some of the most influential advances in the specialty's history, including a form of radiotherapy targeting tumors in the brain while minimizing damage to surrounding tissue. Boston Children's was ranked the No. 1 hospital on U.S. News & World Report's top 50 best children's hospitals for pediatric neurology and neurosurgery for 2018-19.
Boston Medical Center. Established in 1968, Boston Medical Center's department of neurosurgery is a full-service clinical and academic program. The neurosurgery team includes six neurosurgeons and a variety of fellows, nurse practitioners and physician assistants who have the experience to treat a variety of diseases and disorders of the brain, nerves, spine and spinal cord. The 567-bed academic medical center also operates a level 1 trauma center that maintains one of the highest patient volumes in New England. Blue Cross Blue Shield designated Boston Medical Center a Blue Distinction Center in orthopedic spine surgery.
Brigham and Women's Hospital (Boston). The hospital's neurosurgery department was founded in 1913 and has maintained a strong commitment to patient care during its more than 100-year history. The neurosurgery team comprises 23 surgeons, 15 residents and a more than 100-person staff. The facility is also home of the Neurosciences Center at Brigham and Women's Hospital, which stands at the center of the hospital's efforts to treat and cure diseases of the brain and spine. Brigham and Women's was ranked the No. 20 hospital on U.S. News & World Report's top 50 best hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery for 2018-19. It was also ranked among the top 50 quality hospitals in America for medical excellence in neurological surgery for 2019 by CareChex.
Carle Foundation Hospital (Urbana, Ill.). The Carle Neuroscience Institute maintains 13 neuroscience subspecialties and receives about 20,000 patient visits per year, including 570 annual neuro-related trauma cases and 740 stroke patients per year. The facility is also home to the largest number of board-certified neuroscience specialists in the region. The Neuroscience Institute houses a number of research initiatives that aim to study the structure and function of patients' neurological systems and improve their quality of life. At least 12 providers are participating in about 29 studies and three clinical trials at Carle.
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles). The 958-bed Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a leader in neurosurgery, treating more than 150 complex neurological disorders. Its neurology and neurosurgery department has 48 physicians on staff. In 2017, Cedars-Sinai surgeons performed 619 craniotomies, with a lower observed mortality rate than expected. In 2018-19, U.S. News & World Report ranked Cedars-Sinai No. 16 in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery. The hospital also has robust spine surgery services and research, including clinical trials into minimally invasive and motion-preserving technology.
Central DuPage Hospital (Winfield, Ill.). Central DuPage Hospital, a 333-bed facility operated by Chicago-based Northwestern Medicine, is a hub for the Northwestern Medicine Regional Medical Group and one of the busiest surgical hospitals in Illinois. The medical group employs more than 30 physicians with expertise in neurology, and its team of neurosurgeons treats more than 43 complex conditions. CareChex named Central DuPage Hospital among the top five hospitals in Illinois for medical excellence in major neurological surgery for 2019.
Christiana Care Health System (Newark, Del.). Each year, Christiana Care Health System orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons perform nearly 2,400 spine surgeries, and its stroke team treats more than 1,700 stroke cases. Christiana Care Health System, a Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Distinction Center for spine surgery, was recognized by CareChex as No. 5 in the nation for medical excellence in major neurological surgery for 2019. In addition, in its most recent rankings, Healthgrades gave Christiana Care Hospital the America's 100 Best Hospitals for Spine Surgery Award and America's 100 Best Hospitals for Stroke Care Award.
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Founded in 1972, Cincinnati Children's Hospital's division of neurology has grown into one of the nation's top facilities for the treatment of pediatric neurological disorders. Each year the hospital's clinicians see more than 23,000 patients for neurological conditions ranging from neurodevelopmental disorders to headaches. Cincinnati Children's houses one of the largest pediatric headache specialty centers in the U.S. and was the only pediatric center in the nation recognized as an Advanstar Clinical Center of Excellence in Headache Medicine by Medical Economics in 2009. The department's clinicians perform more than 4,000 electroencephalogram tests each year. In 2018-19, U.S. News & World Report ranked Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center No. 2 in the nation for pediatric neurology and neurosurgery.
Cleveland Clinic. Cleveland Clinic's Neurological Institute has a team of more than 300 medical, surgical and research specialists who see more than 140,000 adult and pediatric patients annually. In 2017, Cleveland Clinic neurosurgeons performed 1,120 brain tumor procedures and 447 surgical epilepsy procedures. Cleveland Clinic is a Blue Cross Blue Shield Association designated Blue Distinction Center+ for spine surgery. In 2018-19 U.S. News & World Report ranked Cleveland Clinic No. 4 in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery.
Cooper University Hospital (Camden, N.J.). Cooper University Hospital, a 635-bed academic medical center that is the flagship of Cooper University Health, is home of the Cooper Neurological Institute, which offers treatments for a wide range of conditions, including hydrocephalus, neuromuscular care and spinal trauma. Cooper University Hospital's partnership with one of the top cancer hospital in the nation, Houston-based MD Anderson Cancer Center, expands its expertise in neurological oncology. Specialists at the neurological institute are also faculty members at Camden-based Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, giving patients access to the latest clinical trials and investigational medications.
Duke University Hospital (Durham, N.C.). Duke University Hospital's department of neurology has grown into one of North Carolina's leading neurological programs, with 43,800 clinic visits annually, 78 faculty members and 37 neurology trainees. In 2018, the department of neurology earned $14.8 million in research funding to study neurology-specific conditions. In 2018-19, U.S. News & World Report ranked Duke University Hospital among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery. The hospital is also a Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Distinction Center for spine surgery.
Emory University Hospital (Atlanta). Emory University Hospital, a 733-bed academic medical center founded in 1904, has a comprehensive neurosurgery programs with national recognition. In 2018-19, U.S. News & World Report ranked Emory University Hospital among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery. CareChex also recognized Emory University Hospital as No. 2 in the nation for medical excellence in major neurosurgery in 2019. The hospital is a hub for Emory's department of neurology, which has 109 faculty members.
Erlanger Medical Center (Chattanooga). Erlanger Medical Center is home to a certified academic neurosciences center, which offers comprehensive, multidisciplinary treatments for a wide range of neurological conditions in pediatric and adult patients. The neuroscience center has several departments, including a neurosurgery and spine department with 17 medical professionals and the Erlanger Southeast Regional Stroke Center, which has 22 medical professionals. The hospital also has a busy stroke center that earned the Get With The Guidelines Gold Plus Achievement Award in 2017 for treating stroke patients with 85 percent or higher compliance to core standard levels of care as outlined by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for 24 consecutive months. CareChex ranked Erlanger Medical Center No. 11 in the nation for medical excellence in major neurosurgery for 2019.
Evanston (Ill.) Hospital. Opened in 1891, Evanston Hospital is the flagship facility for Evanston-based NorthShore University HealthSystem and home to the NorthShore Neurological Institute. The neurological institute has more than 70 physicians on staff that treat myriad neurological conditions. It also partners with Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic to provide physician referrals and e-Consults to patients across the Chicagoland area. Evanston Hospital also includes a branch of the NorthShore Spine Center, which includes six surgeons who provide minimally invasive and complex surgical treatment to patients. In its 2019 rankings, CareChex ranked Evanston Hospital No. 11 in the nation for medical excellence in major neurosurgery.
Florida Hospital Orlando. Since its founding in 1998, the Florida Hospital Neuroscience Institute has transformed into one of the nation's most comprehensive neurological programs, offering services including minimally invasive brain surgery to interventional neuroradiology. The institute staffs more than 80 physicians with various neuroscience specialties and boasts the only treatment program of its kind in Florida for patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus. Healthgrades recognized Florida Hospital Orlando with its Neurosciences Excellence Award in both 2018 and 2019.
Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin (Milwaukee). Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin is one of 10 academic medical centers in the nation designated as a major hub for emergency stroke, seizure, spinal cord and brain injury research by the Neurological Emergencies Treatment Trials. Froedtert offers 25 clinical trials in neuroscience. In 2012, the academic medical center became the first in the state to mechanically remove blood clots from patients' brains. The medical center has received Healthgrades' Neurosciences Excellence Award for three consecutive years, most recently in 2019.
Geisinger (Danville, Pa.). Geisinger Neuroscience Institute's team of fellowship-trained specialists includes 32 neurologists and 16 neurosurgeons who diagnose and treat rare and complex neurological disorders. The institute offers innovative treatments for brain tumors through a unique combination of laser therapy and chemotherapy. The health system is also innovative in spine. In 2015, Geisinger launched its ProvenExperience program for spine surgery, which allows patients to request a refund if they were unsatisfied with their care. The health system's flagship hospital, Danville-based Geisinger Medical Center, received Healthgrades' Neurosciences Excellence Award in 2018.
Hackensack (N.J.) University Medical Center. Hackensack University Medical Center offers a robust program for all subspecialized areas of neurosurgery, including cranial surgery, neuro-oncology and complex spine surgery. The neurosurgery program is composed of 32 neurosurgeons, nine neurosurgical spine specialists and seven orthopedic surgical spine specialists who perform 1,500 procedures annually. Healthgrades has recognized Hackensack University Medical Center with its Cranial Neurosurgery Excellence Award for the last three years.
Harper University Hospital (Detroit). Harper University Hospital has made significant advancements to the field of neurosurgery in its 155-year history as a teaching institution. Physicians at Harper University Hospital pioneered the endoscopic transnasal transsphenoidal hypophysectomy procedure for the treatment of pituitary tumors. Harper is also among a handful of academic medical centers nationwide participating in a clinical trial for an experimental surgical procedure to treat cervical disc disease. U.S. News & World Report named Harper University Hospital among the top 30 hospitals in the nation for adult neurology and neurosurgery in its 2018-19 ratings.
Henry Ford Hospital (Detroit). The Henry Ford Neurosciences Institute contains seven dedicated specialty centers focusing on the research and treatment of neurological disorders, including the Hermelin Brain Tumor Center, Movement Disorders Center and Neurodegenerative Diseases Center. The hospital's neurosurgery department performs more spine surgeries than any other neurosurgery department in the state and was among the first to implement minimally invasive spine surgery techniques. Blue Cross Blue Shield Association designated Henry Ford Hospital as a Blue Distinction Center+ for spine surgery in 2018.
Hoag (Newport Beach, Calif.). Hoag's Pickup Family Neurosciences Institute offers a comprehensive neurosciences program in Orange County, Calif. The hospital's multidisciplinary team of spinal care experts strives to provide patient-centered care with conservative, nonsurgical therapies when possible. Hoag spine surgeons performed 470 spine procedures in 2017, 48 percent of which were minimally invasive. In January, Hoag was one of the first hospitals on the West Coast to use an automated robotic navigation technology for spine surgery.
Hospital for Special Surgery (New York City). The spine program at Hospital for Special Surgery features a team of 42 spine surgeons who routinely perform complex procedures. As an orthopedics-focused hospital, Hospital for Special Surgery is a high-volume spine surgery provider. In 2015, the hospital conducted 446 non-cervical spine fusion cases — the next highest hospital performed 347 cases. CareChex ranked Hospital for Special Surgery No. 2 in the nation for spine surgery and No. 8 in the nation for spinal fusion in 2019. Healthgrades has also recognized the hospital with its America's 100 Best Hospitals for Spine Surgery Award for three consecutive years, most recently in 2019.
Houston Methodist Hospital. The Houston Methodist Neurological Institute contains 22 specialized centers and programs where multidisciplinary teams of clinicians diagnose and treat a broad range of neurological diseases and conditions. The institute's Spine & Peripheral Nerve Center includes a team of nine surgeons with expertise in spine and neurosurgery, and serves as a tertiary referral source for the Gulf Coast region. CareChex ranked Houston Methodist No. 26 in the nation for medical excellence in neurosurgery, and U.S. News & World Report ranked the hospital among the top 25 in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery in 2018-19. Blue Cross Blue Shield Association also designated Houston Methodist a Blue Distinction Center+ for spine surgery in 2018.
Huntington Hospital (Pasadena, Calif.). Huntington Hospital is a 619-bed independent teaching hospital known for spine and neurological care in the Los Angeles area. Its 12-bed inpatient stroke unit includes a neuro-critical care unit and holds an Advanced Certification as a Comprehensive Stroke Center from The Joint Commission. The quality and efficiency of its spine surgery care has earned Huntington Hospital the designation as a Blue Distinction Center+ from Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
Inova Fairfax Hospital (Falls Church, Va.). Inova Health System's flagship location, the 923-bed Inova Fairfax Hospital is home base for the system's Inova Neuroscience and Spine Institute, which has 12 specialty programs, including those for brain tumors, concussions and neurotrauma. The independent academic medical center has a dedicated spine unit, outfitted with 14 private rooms and onsite rehabilitation. Inova Fairfax Hospital's proven record as a destination for safe, high quality spine surgery earned it designation as a Blue Distinction Center from Blue Cross Blue Shield.
IU Health (Indianapolis). IU Health is known for top-notch spine and neurosurgery across its system of hospitals. The flagship IU Health Medical Center — home to the state's only two fellowship-trained neuro-oncologists — was ranked among the top 50 hospitals in the country for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report. Five of the system's hospitals were named Blue Distinction Centers for high-quality, safe spine surgery by Blue Cross Blue Shield. IU Health also earned a spot among CareChex's ranking of the best health systems in the nation for medical excellence in spinal fusions.
Jefferson Health (Philadelphia). Jefferson Health has a network of high-quality neurological and spinal care across its system of teaching hospitals and Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience, the only dedicated neuroscience hospital in the region. Its accolades are many: At No. 19, Jefferson breaks the top 20 of U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals for Neurology & Neurosurgery in 2018-19. Thomas Jefferson University Hospital was a Blue Distinction Center+ by Blue Cross Blue Shield Association for spine surgery based on the quality and efficiency of the care it provides. Three of its hospitals are state-designated stroke centers and a recent study published in Neurosurgery found its department of neurological surgery is the most academically productive neurosurgery residency program on the continent.
Johns Hopkins Medicine (Baltimore). Johns Hopkins Hospital is ranked the No. 2 hospital in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report and was named a Blue Distinction Center by Blue Cross Blue Shield Association for providing high-quality, safe spine surgery. The system is home to more than 45 neurology and neurosurgery-related clinics and centers. The hospital's surgeons participate in clinical trials, including investigations focused on complex spine surgery and treatment for rare spinal tumors.
Kaiser Foundation Hospital (Los Angeles). The bulk of Kaiser Permanente's neurosurgery services in Southern California are based at Kaiser Foundation Hospital, including its neuro-oncology program. The medical excellence of the neurological surgery program ranks among the top 50 hospitals in the nation, according to CareChex. In addition to providing top-notch care, Kaiser Foundation Hospital is training the next generation of neurosurgeons. It is home to neurology and neurosurgery residencies, as well as a neuroanesthesia fellowship.
Keck Hospital of USC (Los Angeles). Established in 1919, the Keck Hospital of USC department of neurological surgery now includes 20 full time clinician scientists. With the mission of pursuing innovative care treatment for neurological patients, the department reports an annual case volume of around 3,000 cases. U.S. News & World Report names Keck Hospital of USC among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery, and its spine center was named a Blue Distinction Center by Blue Cross Blue Shield Association for high-quality, safe spine surgery.
Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston). Massachusetts General Hospital has a long history of neurological care. Its neurology department, established in 1872, was one of the first in the nation and is responsible for the first functional MRI machine and numerous important genetic discoveries. Today, the hospital's robust neurology department is comprised of more than 230 physicians and scientists, including 20 faculty neurosurgeons and 20 residents-in-training, who are part of the 86-bed Mass General Neurosciences Institute. Mass General performs 3,600 neurosurgical procedures each year and is ranked the No. 6 hospital in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report.
Lancaster (Pa.) General Health. Lancaster General Health offers patients the full spectrum of neurological care in one location, the 22,000-square-foot Penn Medicine Lancaster General Neuroscience Institute. The health system is also known for spine care. Lancaster Regional Medical Center was named a Blue Distinction Center+ for high-quality, efficient spine surgeries by Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, and was recognized for medical excellence in spinal fusions by CareChex. In November, Lancaster General Hospital became the first hospital in its county to provide mechanical thrombectomy, an advanced stroke treatment.
Lehigh Valley Health Network (Allentown, Pa.). Lehigh Valley Health Network's neurosurgery and spine program is composed of six neurosurgeons and four orthopedic spine surgeons. Together, this team performed more than 2,304 neurosurgery and spine cases in fiscal year 2018. Their spinal fusions have been recognized for medical excellence by CareChex and earned Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown, Pa., and Lehigh Valley Hospital - Muhlenberg in Bethlehem, Pa., designations as Blue Distinction Centers+ for high-quality, efficient spine surgery from Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. However, LVHN is committed to finding better and more efficient ways to conduct spine surgery. It is participating in multiple surgical spine episodes as part of the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Advanced initiative.
Lifespan (Providence, R.I.). At Lifespan, expert physicians work within the Comprehensive Spine Center and neurosurgery network. Lifespan employs 13 neurosurgeons who annually perform about 2,000 neurosurgical procedures. Surgeons specialize in radiofrequency ablation, sacroiliac joint infections, spinal cord stimulation and intrathecal pump therapies, among others. A leader in spine, Lifespan has adopted advanced technology to treat patients, including image-guided navigation.
Loyola University Medical Center (Chicago). As a level 1 trauma center, Loyola University Medical Center is equipped to treat the most serious brain and spine injuries. The hospital also has centers focused on skull base surgery, complex spinal care and deformity correction. Led by a comprehensive team of orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons and spine surgeons, Loyola University Medical Center ranks among U.S. News & World Report's 2018 list of top 50 hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery. Inside its spine surgery center, the hospital employs eight surgeons who perform a full range of surgical treatments, from minimally invasive outpatient procedures to complex tumor resections.
Mayo Clinic Health System (Rochester, Minn.). More than 40,000 people with spine conditions turn to Mayo Clinic annually to treat their pain. With campuses in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota, the health system estimates neurosurgeons perform more than 7,000 complex surgical procedures each year. Mayo Clinic uses the latest innovations and techniques, including robotics, intraoperative MRI, computer-assisted brain surgery and stereotactic radiosurgery. On top of their clinical efforts, surgeons and researchers are conducting 86 clinical studies in the neurosurgery department. All of these efforts landed Mayo Clinic as U.S. News & World Report's No. 1 hospital for neurology and neurosurgery for 2018-19.
Medical University of South Carolina(Charleston). The Medical University of South Carolina was among the first in the state to offer patients endoscopic spine surgery. The hospital staffs 13 spine experts, including spine surgeons, neurosurgeons, neurologists, pain management specialists and neurointerventional radiologists. Surgeons and researchers participate in various clinical trials and have been the inventors of different techniques and devices designed to make surgery safer. Blue Cross Blue Shield Association recognized the Medical University of South Carolina as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery.
MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (Washington, D.C.). Within its minimally invasive spine surgery department, a team of spine surgeons, neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons collaborate to provide comprehensive treatment. The five spine specialists on staff work alongside surgeons from MedStar Georgetown University Hospital's affiliate MedStar National Rehabilitation Network. Patients also have access to the hospital's pain management and rehabilitation center.
Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center (Houston). To meet the needs of spine and neurosurgery patients, Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center developed the Memorial Hermann Orthopedic & Spine Hospital. Staffed with 10 spine and neurosurgery experts, the hospital comprises 64 patient rooms and eight two-room suites. Additionally, Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center developed Mischer Spine Center, where an estimated 3,000 surgeries are performed annually — more than at any other hospital system in Houston. Neurosurgeons participate in clinical trials and innovative therapy discovery at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, which serves as the primary teaching hospital for McGovern Medical School at UTHealth in Houston.
MemorialCare (Fountain Valley, Calif.). MemorialCare has three main locations for spine care. Each center is staffed with neurosurgeons, orthopedic spine surgeons, physiatrists, pain management specialists and physical therapists. The Spine Health Center at the health system's Long Beach (Calif.) Medical Center, Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, and Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, Calif., employs an integrated group of specialists for a program that supports preoperative family education as well as advanced imaging technology and minimally invasive procedures.
Michigan Medicine (Ann Arbor). Michigan Medicine's department of neurosurgery celebrated its centennial anniversary this year, marking 100 years since it officially recognized the neurosurgery subspecialty. Michigan Medicine is also the creator of Michigan NeuroSport, which was the first academic medical program providing comprehensive neurological care for athletes when it was established in 2006 and remains one of only a handful in the U.S. For 2017-18, Michigan Medicine was ranked No. 9 for neurology and neurosurgery on U.S. News & World Report's list of top hospitals in the nation.
Milton S. Hershey Medical Center (Hershey, Pa.). Spine patients who visit Milton S. Hershey Medical Center receive care from the hospital's Neuroscience Institute, Bone and Joint Institute, and Spine Center. The board-certified neurosurgeons, orthopedic and rehabilitation surgeons, and pain management specialists — including the 21 surgeons at the Spine Center — offer comprehensive services. The Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the 50 best hospitals in the nation for orthopedics in 2018-19. CareChex ranked the hospital among the top 20 hospitals for medical excellence in neurological surgery for 2019.
Montefiore Health System (New York City). Montefiore Health System aims to be ahead of the curve in neurosurgery. The health system's surgeons have treated more than 7,000 pediatric and adult neurosurgery patients, and they collaborate with the Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care to treat brain and spine tumors. With an advanced team of spine and neurosurgeons, the neurology and neurosurgery units at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore have ranked among the best in New York by U.S. News & World Report. In April, the health system hosted a Spine Center Symposium in partnership with the New York City-based Albert Einstein College of Medicine featuring sessions on the importance of multidisciplinary spine teams and advanced treatment options.
Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital (Greensboro, N.C.). Cone Health is affiliated with Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Associates in Kernersville, N.C., to provide neurosurgery and spine care. This year, Cone Health earned five stars from Healthgrades for spinal fusion surgery. Comprising a team of spine and neurosurgeons, CareChex ranked Cone Health No. 1 in spinal surgery and spinal fusion in North Carolina in 2018. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina recognized Core Health's successes by designating it a Blue Distinction Center+ for spine surgery.
NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center (New York City). Twenty-four specialists make up the physician team at The Weill Cornell Brain and Spine Center at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. The institute is nationally recognized by U.S. News & World Report, which ranked the health system's flagship hospital No. 5 in the nation for adult neurology and neurosurgery for 2018-19. The health system is a Blue Distinction Center for spine surgery and features the Och Spine Hospital in New York City.
Northwestern Memorial Hospital (Chicago). For 2018-19, U.S. News & World Report ranked the spine center at Northwestern Memorial Hospital No. 8 in the nation for adult neurology and neurosurgery. In October, the department of neurological surgery at Northwestern Memorial Hospital entered into an agreement with Mishawaka, Ind.-based Franciscan Health that expanded Northwestern's telestroke services across four Franciscan Health hospitals. Northwestern Memorial Hospital, part of Northwestern Medicine, is also a Blue Distinction Center+ for spine surgery.
Norton Healthcare (Louisville, Ky.). Eighty-three specialists at the Norton Neuroscience Institute treated more than 57,000 patients from June 2017 to June 2018. More than 6,215 surgical procedures took place in that time frame, and the institute was affiliated with 42 published studies in 2018. Norton Healthcare's Brownsboro Hospital in Louisville is a designated Comprehensive Stroke Center, and three of the health system's other Louisville hospitals — Norton Hospital, Norton Audubon Hospital, and Norton Women's and Children's Hospital — are certified Primary Stroke Centers.
NYU Langone Medical Center (New York City). Each year, physicians at NYU Langone Medical Center's Spine Center evaluate 18,000 patients and perform 2,850 surgeries. For 2018-19, U.S. News & World Report ranked NYU Langone Medical Center No. 12 in the nation for adult neurology and neurosurgery. With roots dating back to 1951, the department of neurosurgery at NYU Langone now has more than 20 full-time clinical and research faculty members. In 2017, Healthgrades awarded NYU Langone Medical Center its Neurosciences Excellence Award and its Stroke Care Excellence Award.
Ochsner Medical Center (New Orleans). Ochsner Medical Center is ranked No. 38 in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report for 2018-19. The hospital received numerous honors from Healthgrades, which awarded Ochsner Medical Center its Cranial Neurosurgery Excellence Award for 2018-19, its Neurosciences Excellence Award for 2017-19, and its America's 100 Best Hospitals for Stroke Care Award from 2017-19. Ochsner Medical Center's telestroke program has reached more than 6,600 patients across Louisiana.
Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (Columbus). The Ohio State Neurological Institute has more than 220 providers and researchers, 330 research studies and 17 hospitals. Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is designated a Blue Distinction Center for spine surgery and has received numerous awards from Healthgrades for neurology care, including the Cranial Neurosurgery Excellence Award (2017-19); America's 100 Best Hospitals for Stroke Care Award (2017-19), and the Neurosciences Excellence Award (2017-19). U.S. News & World Report ranked The Ohio State Neurological Institute No. 22 in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery in 2018-19.
OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital (Columbus). The nine-story OhioHealth Neuroscience Center at Riverside Methodist includes 224 rooms dedicated to brain and spine patients. Healthgrades awarded the OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital its America's 100 Best Hospitals for Stroke Care Award from 2017-19, its Cranial Neurosurgery Excellence Award from 2018-19, and its Neurosciences Excellence Award from 2017-19. The hospital is also designated a Blue Distinction Center+ for spine surgery. U.S. News & World Report ranked OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital No. 45 in the nation for neurosurgery and neurology in 2018-19.
OHSU Hospital (Portland, Ore.). Each year, neurosurgeons at OHSU Hospital operate on approximately 250 patients. The hospital is especially well known for its pediatric neurology services: U.S. News & World Report ranked OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland No. 36 in the nation for pediatric neurology and neurosurgery for 2018-19. OHSU is designated a Blue Distinction Center+ for spine surgery by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
Penn Medicine (Philadelphia). Established in 1936, Penn Medicine's department of neurosurgery is one of the oldest in the nation. Penn Medicine neurosurgeons perform more than 5,000 operations annually across four hospitals in Philadelphia: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Hospital, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Each year, the department receives more than $3 million in research funds, with most of the funds coming from the National Institutes of Health. For 2018-19, U.S. News & World Report ranked Penn Medicine as No. 13 in the nation for adult neurology and neurosurgery.
ProMedica (Toledo, Ohio). Fifteen specialists at the ProMedica Neurosciences Institute at ProMedica Health System provide patients access to the latest neurosurgery services. ProMedica Neurosciences Institute specialists completed an estimated 300 brain surgeries and 1,600 spine surgeries in 2018. ProMedica Toledo Hospital is a designated Comprehensive Stroke Center and has received a five-star rating from Healthgrades for stroke treatment for the past 13 consecutive years.
Rush University Medical Center (Chicago). Twelve orthopedic spine and neurosurgeons treat patients for a variety of spine disorders at Rush University Medical Center, a 603-bed academic health system in the Midwest. Rush ranked No. 11 on U.S. News & World Report's list of top hospitals for adult neurology and neurosurgery for 2018-19 and No. 6 on CareChex's list of top hospitals for major neurological surgery for 2019. The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association also designated the health system a Blue Distinction Center+ for spine surgery. The hospital's surgeons have a reputation for innovation, becoming the first in Illinois to inject oligodendrocyte progenitor cells into a paralyzed patient's cervical spine as part of a multicenter clinical trial to investigate spinal cord injury.
Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City (Mo.). With a focus on collaborative care, the Saint Luke's Spine Surgery Program collaborates with the Saint Luke's Marion Bloch Neuroscience Institute to form the Multidisciplinary Spine & Pain Committee, focused on surgical and nonsurgical treatment options. Saint Luke's ranked No. 5 on CareChex's list of top hospitals for major neurological surgery for 2019, and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association designated the health system a Blue Distinction Center+ for spine surgery. U.S. News & World Report named Saint Luke's among its top 50 hospitals for adult neurology and neurosurgery for 2018-19.
Scripps Health (San Diego). Nearly 30 neurosurgeons treat patients suffering from a range of brain and spine disorders at Scripps Health, a nonprofit health system. The health system's neurosurgeons practice at five Scripps Health sites, including Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas (Calif.), a 40-year-old hospital offering robotic spinal surgery for patients with scoliosis, spinal fractures and other serious spine problems. In July, a surgical practice — Seaside Spine Medical Associates — located on Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas' campus joined the division of orthopedic surgery at Scripps Health's medical group, Scripps Clinic.
Seattle Children's Hospital. Seattle Children's Hospital has nearly 70 specialists on staff in its neurosciences center, a comprehensive program spanning neurology and neurosurgery. These specialists saw 67,853 patients from 2012-16 and performed an estimated 3,400 surgeries. The hospital, which ranks No. 10 on U.S. News & World Report's list of top hospitals for pediatric neurology and neurosurgery for 2018-19, also offers the only level 4 epilepsy program for children in the Northwestern U.S.
Sinai Hospital of Baltimore. Founded in 1866, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore boasts over 100 years of history. Today, the 483-bed community hospital offers neuroscience services through the Berman Brain & Spine Institute, a program that comprises 34 specialists, including neurologists, neurosurgeons and orthopedic spine surgeons. Sinai Hospital's neurology inpatient mortality rate was 0 from July to December 2017, and its neurosurgery inpatient mortality rate was 2.30. It has operated a level 4 epilepsy center since 2016.
Spectrum Health (Grand Rapids, Mich.). One hundred and two specialists make up the clinical neurosciences department at Spectrum Health, a 14-hospital system in the Midwest. In 2015, two orthopedic surgeons and one neurosurgeon in Spectrum Health's interdisciplinary spine and pain management center performed 120 anterior surgical spinal fusions. The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association awarded Spectrum Health Blodgett Hospital and Spectrum Health Butterworth Campus, both in Grand Rapids, its Blue Distinction Center+ status for spine surgery.
St. David's North Austin (Texas) Medical Center. St. David's North Austin Medical Center is part of St. David's HealthCare, a health system based in Austin. The 378-bed multispecialty facility, which has provided medical services since 1995, boasts neuroscience and spine services to treat patients with a range of brain, spine and nerve conditions, in addition to offering a specialized program for robotic surgery. The program, dubbed the Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery, works with hospitals nationwide to create strategies for robotic surgery, including training surgeons and hospital team members on best practices.
St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center (Phoenix). St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center is home to the Barrow Neurological Institute, a 430,000-square-foot specialty center. Founded in 1962, the Barrow Neurological Institute now has more than 100 specialists on staff, 26 of whom are neurosurgeons. These clinicians perform more than 5,000 neurosurgeries each year. St. Joseph's ranked No. 1 on CareChex's list of top hospitals for major neurological surgery for 2019 and No. 15 on U.S. News & World Report's list of top hospitals for adult neurology and neurosurgery for 2018-19.
St. Luke's Boise (Idaho) Medical Center. St. Luke's Boise Medical Center, founded more than 100 years ago in 1902, is the flagship hospital of Boise-based St. Luke's. Fourteen neurosurgeons practice at two of the hospital's affiliated clinics in Boise, where they evaluate and treat patients with various neurological conditions, such as spinal cord tumors and spine aneurysms. The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association named St. Luke's a Blue Distinction Center+ for spine surgery.
Stanford (Calif.) Health Care. Stanford Health Care, a 613-bed academic health system, opened the Stanford Neuroscience Health Center in 2016. The center employs a variety of specialists, including five neurosurgeons who work in the center's neurological spine disorders clinic. Stanford ranked No. 14 on U.S. News & World Report's list of top hospitals for adult neurology and neurosurgery for 2018-19 and No. 14 on CareChex's list of top hospitals for major neurological surgery for 2019.
Sutter Health (Sacramento, Calif.). Sutter Health's Neuroscience Institute provides services in the health system's San Francisco, East Bay and Sacramento locations. In the Valley Area, Sutter providers reported 649 inpatient neurosurgeries in 2017 as well as more than 2,000 inpatient spine procedures. The health system's Valley Area also reported 204 outpatient neurosurgeries and 795 outpatient spine surgeries last year. In the Bay Area, Sutter's surgeons perform an average of 800 back and neck procedures per year, including around 500 spinal fusions. Systemwide, Sutter Health has 16 Joint Commission-certified Primary Stroke Centers, and CareChex named two Sutter Health campuses among the top 10 percent in California for medical excellence in neurological care for 2017.
Swedish Medical Center (Englewood, Colo.). Swedish Medical Center currently hosts 25 neuro-related clinical studies. In 2014, it moved forward with a $50 million expansion of its neuroscience center, the second largest expansion in the system's recent history. The expansion added 65,000 square feet to the hospital and renovated another 28,000 square feet, while creating 39 beds dedicated to the neuroscience program. The expansion also included a new neurocritical care unit. Swedish Medical Center has a partnership with the adjacently located Craig Hospital, which provides brain and spine injury rehabilitation. The spine experts at Swedish Medical Center have also built a robust program, which includes 90 spine surgeries per month.
Texas Children's Hospital (Houston). The neurosurgeons at Texas Children's Hospital perform more than 950 operations annually, and they aim to stay at the forefront of innovative care. The hospital was the first in the world to use real-time, MRI-guided thermal imaging and laser technology to destroy brain lesions. The hospital also has advanced services for scoliosis correction with seven dedicated physicians. Texas Children's Hospital was named the nation's No. 3 pediatric neurological program in 2018-19 by U.S. News & World Report.
The Christ Hospital (Cincinnati). The Christ Hospital Joint & Spine Center is a specialty facility that includes 14 operating rooms and 87 private patient rooms. The hospital provides a variety of spine services at the main facility as well as at three outpatient surgery centers. In February, The Christ Hospital Health Network partnered with The Kroger Co., a large grocery retailer, to participate in its center of excellence program for total joint and spine surgery patients.
University of Califonira San Diego Health. UC San Diego's division of neurosurgery was founded in 1971 and has grown to become one of the most innovative in the nation. The division collaborates regularly with the UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego-based Scripps Research Institute and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, Calif. The group leads many clinical trials annually, including one that has examined the impact of carotid stenting in patients with carotid artery disease or neurocognition. The health system also has a robust spine program that includes motion preservation, endoscopic spine surgery and FDA clinical trials. UC San Diego Health-Jacobs Medical Center ranked among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery in 2018-19 according to U.S. News & World Report.
UCLA Medical Center (Los Angeles). The UCLA department of neurosurgery launched its training program in 1955 and has grown to support 20 clinical faculty members in addition to 15 full-time academic clinicians. Over the past year, the department received a $3 million gift to research mobility and function for patients with spinal cord injury as well as an $8.5 million grant to develop surgical treatment and understand the neurocircuitry of depression. In 2009, the UCLA neurosurgery department implemented a clinical quality program and since then has reduced hospital-acquired infections, unplanned 30-day readmissions and achieved higher physician and nursing care satisfaction scores. U.S. News & World Report ranked the hospital No. 10 in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery in 2018-19.
UCSF Medical Center (San Francisco). UCSF Spine Center is among the largest centers in the country, treating around 10,000 patients per year. The department includes 17 physicians focused on neurosurgery, spine surgery and nonoperative spine care. Specialists also focus on research, providing clinical trials for neurosurgery and spinal deformity patients, as well as a minimally invasive surgery for adult deformity study. U.S. News & World Report named UCSF Medical Center among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery in 2018-19.
UF Health (Gainesville, Fla.). The UF Health Spine Program provides comprehensive services for patients with spinal tumors, degenerative disease and craniocervical junction anomalies. The spine team performs more than 1,000 surgeries each year, including minimally invasive procedures. The health system's neurosurgery and neurology departments include 75 faculty members and received around $10 million in research funding for studies and trials. The UF Health neuromedicine experts perform around 10,000 procedures and support 30,000 outpatient visits annually. UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville was ranked No. 32 in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report.
UNC Rex Hospital (Raleigh, N.C.). UNC REX's team of 10 neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons perform thousands of surgeries every year. The hospital recently expanded its neuroscience program to include a new neuroscience ICU, which will improve the treatment of stroke and other illnesses. UNC REX is the only hospital in North Carolina to receive straight A's from the Leapfrog Group, since it began grading hospitals for safety in 2012.
University Hospitals (Cleveland). The University Hospitals Neurological Institute is composed of 13 centers of excellence. The team is involved in almost 100 research projects and clinical trials, including a brain tumor vaccine and a surgical rehearsal platform. The health system also has a robust spine care program, one of 20 in the U.S. designated a Center of Excellence by the National Spine Institute. University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center was named the No. 18 hospital for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report in 2018-19.
University of Alabama Hospital at Birmingham. UAB was one of fewer than 100 organizations to voluntarily submit surgical outcomes data to the Quality Outcomes Database in 2017, and its neurosurgeons reported impressive numbers. UAB neurosurgeons achieved a 72 percent patient satisfaction score, an 89 percent score for patients returning to work in three months, and a 30-day readmission rate of 1.2 percent — beating national averages in all three measures. The UAB neurosurgery department ranked No. 10 in 2017 NIH funding with $3.6 million, nearly double the previous year's funding. This fall, the neurosurgery department at UAB created its first division, the pediatric neurosurgery division, just five years after the neurosurgery department was established within the UAB School of Medicine. For 2018-19, UAB secured the No. 36 spot on U.S. News & World Report's ranking of hospitals with the best neurology and neurosurgery programs.
University of California Davis Medical Center (Sacramento). UC Davis Medical Center's neurological surgery department comprises a team of about 20 surgeons, scientists and residents who collaborate with physicians in the hospital's level 1 trauma center as well as experts in other departments. In July, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke renewed UC Davis Health's status as one of two West Coast locations participating in its NeuroNEXT Network for Excellence in Neuroscience Clinical Trials. UC Davis specialists are actively engaged in numerous studies, including a multicenter, nationwide clinical trial testing a nonsurgical treatment for reducing pain from lumbar disc herniation. For delivering innovative treatments and medical advancements, UC Davis Medical Center was ranked the No. 28 hospital in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report in 2018.
University of Chicago Medical Center. The University of Chicago became involved in neurological surgery training and research in 1928. Today, University of Chicago Medical Center's section of neurosurgery is powered by a group of 10 neurosurgeons and spine surgeons who saw 1,029 cases and 7,036 visits in 2017. In October 2018, the hospital's neuroscience researchers received a $3.4 million NIH grant to develop brain-controlled prosthetic limbs with the same dexterity and functionality as the human hand. University of Chicago Medical Center's neuroscience and advanced surgery services are housed in the Center for Care and Discovery, a 10-story, $700 million building that opened in 2013.
University of Colorado Hospital (Aurora). University of Colorado Hospital boasts the region's largest deep brain stimulation program, as well as Colorado's only neurointensive care unit, with several neurological care outcomes beating the national goal. UCH's time-to-stroke-team arrival in the emergency department is 5 minutes, beating the national goal of 15 minutes or less. The hospital has an in-hospital mortality rate of 0.8 percent for aneurysmal clipping and coiling, and an in-hospital mortality rate of 0 percent for carotid artery stenting and endarterectomy interventions. University of Colorado Hospital ranked No. 30 for neurology and neurosurgery on U.S. News & World Report's list, making it the top hospital in the state for those specialties. The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association named UCH the only Blue Distinction Center+ for Spine Surgery in Colorado.
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (Iowa City). The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics' UI Spine Center comprises a team of 10 orthopedic physicians and neurosurgeons. In 2017, the 811-bed hospital's comprehensive stroke center — which specializes in treating patients who suffered a stroke or have a cerebrovascular disease — received the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association's highest award for stroke care. Building on its 2016 designation as a Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield Blue Distinction Center+ for spine surgery, the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics received the highest neurology and neurosurgery score in the state from U.S. News & World Report in 2018.
University of Kansas Hospital (Kansas City). At the University of Kansas Hospital's Center for Advanced Brain and Neurological Care, physicians have access to advanced technologies, including one of the few hospital-owned, in-house 3D printers in the country. In 2017, University of Kansas Health System installed the region's first intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging device at its Cambridge North Tower to support physicians performing complex neurosurgeries. University of Kansas Hospital is designated a level 4 Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, the National Association of Epilepsy Centers' highest designation. It is also one of the few facilities in the nation named an Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center. The hospital ranked among U.S. News & World Report's top 50 programs for neurology and neurosurgery for 2018-19.
University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital (Lexington). The University of Kentucky's Neuroscience Institute is a force to be reckoned with, comprising 47 providers specializing in neurology, 13 specializing in neurosurgery and five specializing in adolescent neurology. The neurosurgery department also has a team of four physicians who perform complex spine surgeries. The neurology department is currently involved in more than two dozen clinical studies, researching topics such as the efficacy of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis treatments and a potential disease-modifying agent in patients with Parkinson's disease. In 2017, U.S. News & World Report ranked the Kentucky Neuroscience Institute No. 44 in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery. The Joint Commission redesignated Kentucky Neuroscience Institute as a Comprehensive Stroke Center in early 2018.
University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics (Salt Lake City). University of Utah School of Medicine's brain, spine and nerve treatment services are housed at the Salt Lake City-based Clinical Neurosciences Center, which has expanded its spine care services to South Jordan, Utah, and Park City, Utah. The hospital's neurosurgeons deliver innovative treatments, including stereotactic radiosurgery and deep-brain stimulation procedures. In 2014, the Clinical Neurosciences Center became one of three organizations in the U.S. designated a Gold Neuroscience Center of Excellence.
University of Virginia Medical Center (Charlottesville). Since treating "Superman" actor Christopher Reeve's vertebrae fractures in 1995, physicians at University of Virginia Medical Center have continued innovating in spine and neurosurgery. In 2010, the hospital's specialists performed gamma-knife radiosurgery to halt the growth of the world's tallest living human, and in 2016, they began using the completely noninvasive technology for brain and upper spine surgery. University of Virginia Medical Center's neurosurgery researchers, including six specializing in spine surgery, are actively researching the potential for high-intensity focused ultrasound technology to treat tumors, strokes and movement disorders.
UW Medicine (Seattle). The UW Medicine department of neurological surgery provides care at four of the University of Washington-affiliated hospitals in Seattle. It also serves as a referral center for complex neurological care, covering the five-state region of Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. Launched more than 70 years ago, the department now includes 20 neurosurgeons and 15 neuroscientists, as well as more than 20 residents providing care. In addition to clinical services, the neurological surgery department has more than 20,000 square feet of dedicated laboratory space and office space at the University of Washington, Seattle Children's Hospital and Seattle Children's Research Institute. The health system also includes the UW Medicine Brain Aneurysm Center and Seattle Sports Concussion Program.
UW Health (Madison, Wis.). Founded in 1942 as a division of the department of surgery, the University of Wisconsin's neurological surgery department has grown to include 23 faculty members. At the UW Health Brain Tumor Center, specialists see more than 1,200 brain tumor patients annually, working with the UW Carbone Cancer Center as needed. The neurosurgery department also has robust spine services, including artificial disc replacement, minimally invasive spinal fusions and endoscopic discectomy. U.S. News & World Report ranked UW Health among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery in 2018-19.
UPMC (Pittsburgh). UPMC aims to stay at the top of the neurosurgery and spine field, focusing on minimally invasive procedures and pioneering new technology and techniques. The health system's neurosurgical providers perform more than 11,000 procedures per year, and the neurosurgical department receives among the most National Institutes of Health funding for clinical research. The department's specialists have been developing technology to help paralyzed patients, and The New Yorker recently featured an article about their progress. U.S. News & World Report ranked the health system's UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery in 2018-19.
UR Medicine (Rochester, N.Y.). University of Rochester Medicine offers integrated spine care, connecting neurosurgeons, pain management specialists and physical therapists to care for patients. The team includes 14 physicians who focus on minimally invasive approaches to treat spinal disorders and conditions. The hospital also developed a brain and spine tumor program, which supports research for therapies and clinical trials to treat neuro-oncological disease. UR Medicine also set up the country's 13th FIRST Mobile Stroke Unit in September, a $1 million unit that will administer treatment to patients suffering from a stroke.
UT Southwestern Medical Center (Dallas). UT Southwestern Medical Center's neurological surgery program includes 22 faculty focused on several subspecialties. The department also has a mission to train leaders of the future, with a neurological surgery residency program as well as fellowship training in neurocritical care and spine surgery. UT Southwestern Medical Center is a level 4 epilepsy center — the highest level — and U.S. News & World Report honored the hospital as one of the top 50 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery. UT Southwestern's department of neurological surgery also hosts the Texas Computational Memory Lab, a neuroscience research lab that focuses on epilepsy and movement disorders.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center (Nashville, Tenn.). Vanderbilt University Medical Center's neurosurgery department includes six subspecialties and 16 physician faculty members. The neurological department's specialists are responsible for performing more than 5,000 procedures annually, and the department has a presence in 172 counties through its community practice programs. In addition to providing clinical care, the neurosurgery department values education and supports 21 residents annually, recruiting three from each class. Research is also an integral aspect of the department's mission, which supports science from basic lab investigations all the way to human clinical trials and outcomes-related research. U.S. News & World Report ranked Vanderbilt University Medical Center among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery in 2018-19.
Vidant Medical Center (Greenville, N.C.).Vidant Medical Center's neurological surgery department exceeds the national benchmark for the American Heart Association's stroke quality measures and reports lower serious complication rates for diagnostic angiogram than the national benchmark. The hospital includes the only neuroscience intensive care unit in eastern North Carolina and is the first and only hospital to earn American Heart Association and American Stroke Association Comprehensive Stroke Center certification in the region. The department includes 68 physicians and specialists who care for patients with neurological conditions and injuries.
Wake Forest Baptist Health (Winston-Salem, N.C.). With a storied history, Wake Forest Baptist Health became the fourth hospital in North Carolina — and the 103rd nationwide — to earn The Joint Commission's Comprehensive Stroke Center designation. The center provides stroke assessment and consultation to remote areas through the Wake Forest Baptist Telestroke Network. The health system also supports The ALS Center and devotes six full-time faculty members to pediatric neurology. The health system's spine center also has busy surgeons who perform more than 1,000 procedures each year to treat back and neck disorders. U.S. News & World Report ranked Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery in 2018-19.
West Virginia University Hospital (Morgantown). The department of neurosurgery at the 645-bed West Virginia University Hospital includes cranial, neurovascular, spine and epilepsy specialists for both adult and pediatric patients. The hospital is a level 1 trauma center, and in 2017, WVU Medicine opened the West Virginia University Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute. The institute recently enrolled the first patient in a clinical trial to test the effectiveness of an injectable nonopioid, nonsteroid micropellet for patients with sciatica. The spine department also has a rich history, with specialists who see 1,100 spine cases per year and instruct the next generation of surgeons through the West Virginia University Spine Fellowship Program, which has been an AOSpine North America Fellowship Site since 2011.
Winchester (Va.) Medical Center. Winchester Medical Center is a level 2 trauma center with a dedicated neurological intensive care unit for patients with traumatic brain and spine injuries or those who need critical care. The hospital's specialists aim to take the least invasive approach to brain and spine care and collaborate with surgeons from Virginia Brain & Spine Center as well as Winchester Orthopaedic Associates. The specialists also participate in clinical trials to examine new technologies and collect patient data to establish best practices in spinal treatment.
Yale New Haven (Conn.) Hospital. The Yale department of neurosurgery includes neurosurgeons that provide care at 10 hospitals across Connecticut and then transfer the most critical patients to New Haven. For years, the department has been on the forefront of research and patient care, earning National Institutes of Health grants and awards to study topics such as genetics and genomics of brain tumors and epilepsy management. The hospital also supports the multidisciplinary Yale Spine Center, focused on minimally invasive treatment of spinal disorders. U.S. News & World Report named Yale New Haven Hospital among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery in 2018-19.