October 2021

NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE NEUROSURGERY EXPANDS THROUGHOUT CHICAGOLAND

Northwestern Medicine Neurosurgery Expands to Increase Access to Neurosurgery Care
New neurosurgery clinics are now open in the South and Northwest regions to increase access to Northwestern Medicine neurosciences programs throughout Chicagoland.

“Neurosurgical disease frequently requires emergent care and life-saving procedures to be provided in a timely fashion,” says Babak S. Jahromi, MD, PhD, vice chair of Regional Neurosurgery, Northwestern Medicine. “We want to ensure our patients have access when seconds count. In addition, patients are more adherent to pre- and post-operative care when they can see their physician closer to home.”

Patients in the south and northwest suburbs of Chicago now have access to comprehensive neurosurgery services and the Northwestern Memorial Hospital Neurology and Neurosurgery program, which was ranked No. 9 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, 2021 - 2022. The new neurosurgery clinics will bring emergency neurosurgery, brain and spine trauma services, and comprehensive neurosurgical care for a wide range of conditions to these communities.

NMG Neurosurgery South
In September, the activation of Northwestern Medical Group Neurosurgery South was led by Drew A. Spencer, MD, a board-certified neurosurgeon who recently joined NM and is now seeing patients at Palos Hospital. Dr. Spencer was the chief medical resident at the McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University and trained under the leaders of the Northwestern Medicine neurosurgery department.

“This is a unique opportunity to build a neurosurgical program from the ground up and put the Northwestern Medicine stamp on it,” says Dr. Spencer. “This community deserves the highest-quality neurosurgery services. It is exciting to address the needs of patients with complex conditions close to home.”

Over the next year, NM will develop an inpatient program at Palos that includes a Neurointensive Care Unit. The goal is to eventually perform most neurosurgical procedures at Palos. There are additional plans to launch telestroke services at Palos on November 1 that will provide 24/7 virtual exams by stroke neurologists from the Comprehensive Stroke Center at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Edward M. Manno, MD, director of Regional Neurology, and Nicholas J. Reish, MD, have been providing neurohospitalist consult services at Palos since July.

Later this year, specialty outpatient clinics will begin opening in the south suburbs to care for patients with neuromuscular diseases, sleep conditions, movement disorders, neurovascular disorders, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and other conditions.

The vision for neurology and neurosurgery in the South Region is an integrated neurosciences program that mirrors the care model at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Neurologists and neurosurgeons will work together to give patients the best possible outcomes.

NMG Neurosurgery Northwest
In February 2021, NMG established high-quality neurosurgery services at Huntley Hospital and McHenry Hospital in the northwest suburbs. The program is led by Michael T. Walsh, MD, recently appointed regional chief of Neurosurgery for the North and Northwest regions.

“It is rewarding to expand the reach of NM’s world-class neurosurgery program,” says G. Alexander Jones, MD. “Having access to a top-ranked neurosurgery program, coupled with the expertise of a local neurosurgeon, is essential to our patients and the community at large. Patients will now get the care they need without having to travel outside of the health system.”

George E. DePhillips, MD, joined the Neurosurgery team in the Northwest Region in August 2021.

Drew A. Spencer, MD, is a board-certified neurosurgeon at Northwestern Medicine.