Mayfield Brain & Spine, the region’s largest independent neurosurgical physician group, is expanding its clinical partnership with St. Elizabeth Healthcare to provide more complex interventional stroke and brain tumor services in Northern Kentucky.
Gary Blank
Gary Blank, Chief Operating Officer, St. Elizabeth Healthcare, said, “We are proud to expand our partnership with one of the most respected neurosurgical physician groups in the country. St. Elizabeth will soon offer the full complement of advanced treatments for stroke patients in the region, including endovascular surgery.”
Andrew J. Ringer, MD, a Mayfield neurosurgeon specializing in endovascular surgery, will lead the St. Elizabeth interventional stroke program. Dr. Ringer, who earned his fellowship in endovascular surgery at the University of Buffalo in Buffalo, New York, and is the Board Chair of Mayfield Brain & Spine said, “We look forward to working collaboratively with the entire stroke team at St. Elizabeth to expand and improve this service. By adding interventional stroke care to St. Elizabeth Edgewood, we can save more lives and reduce the incidence of debilitating stroke symptoms.”
Mayfield Brain & Spine has also added Craig Kilburg, MD, to work closely with Dr. Ringer within the St. Elizabeth stroke program.
The expanded service will allow St. Elizabeth Healthcare to provide interventional endovascular services, such as endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). EVT is a specialized surgical procedure to remove a blood clot from the brain during an acute ischemic stroke.
Studies have shown EVT is the most effective treatment for saving lives and minimizing the risk of disability. Mayfield is dedicated to advancing brain, spine and stroke care and is a national leader in medical research for new and innovative treatment methods.
Dr. Ringer explains the advantages for patients, “This advanced procedure gives us the ability to preserve life and function—from speech and sight to motion and mobility — for patients who have a specific type of stroke. By having immediate access to advanced diagnostics and an endovascular surgeon, we can make a dramatic difference for patients with stroke—in their recoveries and their lives.”
Dr. Andrew Ringer
Mayfield endovascular neurosurgeons will work collaboratively with a team of neurologists and neuroradiologists to provide comprehensive stroke care. Dr. James P. Farrell, neurologist with Riverhills Neuroscience, will continue as the Medical Director for Stroke Services at St. Elizabeth. The St. Elizabeth Edgewood facility will serve as an advanced stroke center and provide support to the St. Elizabeth facilities in Florence, Ft. Thomas, Covington and Grant. St. Elizabeth will work with The Joint Commission to elevate the Stroke Center designation at Edgewood from a Primary Stroke Center to a Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center.
Tony Hyott, Assistant Vice President of Orthopaedics, Neurosciences and Administrative Affairs at St. Elizabeth Healthcare said, “Our vision at St. Elizabeth Healthcare is to lead Northern Kentucky to be one of the healthiest communities in America. To continue to bring that vision to life, we are partnering with one of the national leaders in neurosurgical care. We’re proud that we will bring more comprehensive neuroscience care to Northern Kentucky.”
As part of the expanded clinical partnership, we are collaborating to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of adult patients with primary and metastatic brain tumors. The team includes physician and nurse specialists in neurosurgery, medical neuro-oncology, radiation oncology, neuro-pathology, and a fellowship-trained neuro-oncologist. This partnership gives patients and their loved ones a broader support staff to assure they receive the care they need.
Mark Farrington, Chief Executive Officer, Mayfield Brain & Spine, said, “Our goal is to provide access to advanced neurosurgical services to the entire Greater Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky region and beyond. Through partnerships with leading hospital systems, such as St. Elizabeth, we are able to bring more complex and comprehensive neurosurgical services to our patients, in the communities where they live.”
