Annual Report 2010 - 2011
DEPARTMENT OF NEUROSURGERY
CLINICAL: For fiscal year 2011, the Department of Neurosurgery had 2,545 cases, a 25% increase from FY10. The number of visits increased 2% at 12,778, with work RVUs at 108,149, a 1% increase from 2010 despite the de-valuing of one of the most frequent spine procedures completed in Neurosurgery and a faculty member on intermittent medical leave. The Department of Neurosurgery had an exciting year for continued growth and recognition. This year, Neurosurgery was named in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospital ranking for Neurology and Neurosurgery. As part of the Neuroscience Service Line, Neurosurgery is actively engaged in Medical Center efforts to develop multidisciplinary Centers of Excellence. Through the Neuroscience Center of Excellence, Neurosurgery is participating in programs to grow stroke and spine services, as well as strengthen and defend programs for movement disorders, epilepsy, and Neuro-oncology.
As part of the Stroke Center of Excellence Initiative, we hired Dr. Rashid M. Janjua, our first Neurosurgeon with specialty training and expertise in endovascular techniques to treat neurovascular conditions. Dr. Janjua and Dr. John A. Wilson are partnering with the Neurology department to provide the most comprehensive stroke care in the region. Through these efforts, our stroke service has realized more than a 17% increase in patient volumes over the past year. In collaboration with Orthopaedic Surgery, Dr. Charles L. Branch, Jr. is leading the initiative to develop a multidisciplinary spine center. The spine center will offer patients the opportunity to receive the full continuum of spine care from both conservative care providers and surgical team members.
Charles L. Branch, Jr., M.D., Chair of Neurosurgery, was named to the 100 Best Spine Surgeons and Specialists in America list by Becker’s Orthopaedic & Spine’s Annual Review. In addition, both Dr. Branch and Dr. John A. Wilson were recognized as America’s Top Doctors in Neurological Surgery. Dr. Stephen B. Tatter received recognition as Americas Top Doctor in Cancer and both Dr. Thomas L. Ellis and Dr. Daniel E. Couture received Patient’s Choice Awards from Castle Connelly LLC. Waldemar Debinski, M.D., PhD, Director of the Brain Tumor Center of Excellence, was recognized by the Triad Business Journal as Hero in Healthcare for his research to advance the treatment of brain tumors.
ACADEMIC: For fiscal year 2012, The Department of Neurosurgery has 12 residents. With two fellowship-trained pediatric neurosurgeons on faculty, the pediatric Neurosurgery program continues to grow and now accounts for over 16% the total patients seen in Neurosurgery. Neuroscience is also a growth area in the Pediatric Center of Excellence. As part of the Center of Excellence initiative, Dr. Daniel E. Couture is leading the efforts to grow the surgical component of the pediatric epilepsy program.
The Neurosurgery residency program successfully completed a full review by the Residency Review Committee and received full accreditation for four years and physicians continue to participate in clinical research, as evidenced by many ongoing clinical studies. Three new adult clinical studies were initiated in addition to the numerous translational science grants that have been submitted. Neurosurgery’s basic science research is conducted via the institutionally recognized Brain Tumor Center of Excellence.