For at least a decade, a hub-and-spoke model has been recognized as an optimal means of delivering stroke care to patients who live far from tertiary or quaternary medical centers. WellSpan Health has perfected that model, offering primary stroke care across five counties. Consultation and transfer availability to the tertiary stroke center at WellSpan York Hospital allows patients to get the best of all worlds — prompt care near where they live and work, backed by academic expertise and advanced techniques. 

“We uphold high standards following literature-based practices,” says Muhammad H. Niazi, MD, FACP, endovascular neurointerventionalist with WellSpan Neurosurgery in York. “Our system works like a well-oiled machine to provide the highest level of care for our residents.”  

Multimodal and Minimally Invasive Approaches 

WellSpan York Hospital provides patients with a range of multimodal treatment options, Dr. Niazi explains. “By ‘multimodality,’ I mean approaches ranging from maximized medical management to invasive endovascular treatment procedures to open cerebrovascular surgeries,” he says. “We offer minimally invasive endovascular procedures for many neurovascular disease processes which used to be treated by open surgery only.” 

The minimally invasive endovascular approach offers benefits including small punctures that leave no scarring, shorter recovery times and “relatively pain-free recovery,” Dr. Niazi says. This approach, which relies on image guidance to help the neurointerventionalist access vascular structures of the brain, can help treat not only acute stroke but a range of other cerebrovascular conditions. 

For stroke patients, the multimodal treatment process begins close to home. When patients who present at a primary stroke center receive a diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke, for example, artificial intelligence-based notifications alert providers at the tertiary stroke center. 

“This has significantly improved patient care by decreasing the time it takes from image acquisition to alerting the highest-end specialties, such as neuroendovascular surgery, in a matter of seconds,” Dr. Niazi says. “This enables us to respond in a proactive manner. In neurovascular emergencies, time lost means neurons lost.” 

A Referral Partner You Can Trust 

WellSpan Health neurologists and other providers caring for stroke patients keep in close contact with patients’ home providers. “During a hospitalization, our electronic medical record gives us options to call or chat directly in a secure way,” Dr. Niazi says.  

“We also send our notes electronically and make sure patients are discharged with follow-up appointments scheduled. We are available for your patients. We are happy to respond to your questions and concerns, review image findings and do our best to see complicated patients in an expedited fashion.” 

To learn more, visit wellspan.org/stroke.