The Marcus Neuroscience Institute Continues to Use Funds to Expand Services
and Technology to Prevent Stroke and Reduce the Number of Stroke-Related Deaths
Boca Raton, FL – February 11, 2020 – Boca Raton Regional Hospital’s
(BRRH) Marcus Neuroscience Institute (MNI) recently entered phase II of
its grant agreement with the Marcus Stroke Network to continue reducing
the high rates of death and disability for stroke in the Southeastern
United States.
As a result of Phase I, MNI significantly elevated the quality of stroke
treatment. The Institute provided tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) within
45 minutes for 100% of eligible patients in 2019, up from 58% in 2017
and 79.3% in 2018. Door-to-CT times of less than 25 minutes remain on
track for 100% of patients. The Institute was also honored with the Stroke
Gold Plus and Honor Roll Elite Plus, the highest quality achievement awards
from the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® program.
“The Marcus Neuroscience Institute is solidifying its position as
the preeminent leader in Palm Beach County in stroke care,” said
Dr. Frank Vrionis, director of MNI. “We continue to expand our footprint
in the region, enhance our treatment capabilities and increase staff with
the highest levels of expertise in stroke care.”
A major accomplishment during Phase I was MNI’s recognition as a
certified Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center by The Joint Commission,
in collaboration with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.
This certification signifies that the Institute meets rigorous standards
for performing mechanical endovascular thrombectomy, a minimally invasive
procedure used to remove a blood clot from the brain during an ischemic stroke.
Phase II of the grant will build upon the success of Phase I and be completed
in May 2022. During this period, MNI will aim to secure comprehensive
stroke center certification by The Joint Commission, continue to expand
its expert telestroke service and complete a third interventional neuroradiology
suite with direct-to-angiography capabilities. Phase II also includes
a gap analysis to be completed to determine the viability of a mobile
stroke unit in Palm Beach County.
“Funds from the Marcus Stroke Network grant are being invested in
technology and resources that help our clinical staff detect stroke earlier
and provide more immediate treatment,” said Brian Snelling, M.D.,
Director of Cerebrovascular & Endovascular Neurosurgery at MNI. “Our
ability to provide quicker care is significantly improving patient outcomes.”
The Marcus Stroke Network was established in 2017 with a $15 million donation
from Marcus Foundation. In addition to MNI, the network includes a collaborative
effort among Grady Health System, Emory University School of Medicine,
and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association with an aim to:
• Extend the world-renowned stroke expertise of the Marcus Stroke
Network physician team by using innovative telemedicine technology to
aggressively accelerate early and definitive stroke treatment.
• Establish the region’s first Mobile Stroke Unit, a specialized
ambulance equipped with a CT scanner that allows medical teams to initiate
lifesaving treatment for stroke patients before they reach the hospital.
• Implement a new paradigm of acute stroke care by initiating a direct
“ambulance to angiography” approach.
• Support paramedics providing pre-hospital care to help with the
diagnosis and triage of stroke patients to the nearest appropriate hospital,
thereby optimizing treatment and community resources more effectively.
• Enhance the quality of care at participating Marcus Stroke Network
hospitals and ensure long-term sustainability through a Regional Coordinated
Stroke System of Care.
About the Marcus Neuroscience Institute
The Marcus Neuroscience Institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital is an
innovative nexus for neurologic and neurosurgical care. The 57,000-square-foot
facility houses a 20-bed Neuro Intensive Care and Step-Down Unit, four
dedicated operating rooms — including one equipped with intraoperative
MRI and two with intraoperative CT capability — and a biplane angiography
suite, a crucial component in the diagnosis and care of neurological conditions.
The Institute has a staff of five neurosurgeons and eight neurologists
who represent some of the most respected clinicians in their fields and
is affiliated with Florida Atlantic University’s Charles E. Schmidt
College of Medicine.
About Boca Raton Regional Hospital
Boca Raton Regional Hospital is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the
largest healthcare organization in the region, with 11 hospitals, nearly
23,000 employees, more than 4,000 physicians and more than 100 outpatient
centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning across
Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has
internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular
care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences. In addition,
it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network;
and Baptist Health Care On Demand, a virtual health platform. A not-for-profit
organization supported by philanthropy and committed to our faith-based
charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has been recognized
by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and
by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For
more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Newsroom and connect with us
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