image_pdfimage_print
The Marcus Neuroscience Institute Continues to Use Funds to Expand Services and
Technology to Prevent Stroke and Reduce the Number of Stroke-Related Deaths
 
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.