Tampa General Hospital’s Neuroscience Institute Recognized as a Top Neuro/Spine Program by Becker’s Hospital Review

The Institute has been recognized for excellence and innovation in neurological and spine care.

 

Tampa, FL (Feb. 14, 2024) – Tampa General Hospital (TGH)’s Neuroscience Institute is one of the top neurology and spine programs in the U.S., according to Becker’s Hospital Review’s 2023 list of “Hospitals and Health Systems with Spine and Neuroscience Programs to Know,” which highlights 70 hospitals and health systems across the country that provide exceptional care for patients with neurological and spinal conditions or injuries.

 

"Tampa General is proud to be home to the first nationally accredited comprehensive stroke center in Hillsborough County, the provider of more neurological services than any other health system in West Central Florida and an established leader in spine care and minimally invasive spinal surgery," said John Couris, president and CEO of Tampa General Hospital. “Our dedicated team at the TGH Neuroscience Institute earned this recognition because they stop at nothing to uncover new and better ways to deliver the highest quality and safest care while improving patient experience and outcomes.”

 

Tampa General features one of the busiest functional neurosurgery programs in the U.S. and is one of the most trusted centers in the country for the medical and surgical treatment of disorders of the cranial nerves. The TGH Neuroscience Institute offers a full spectrum of care for neurological problems and provides comprehensive treatment for children and adults affected by a neurological disorder or disease, including the most complex neurological issues. Its neuroscience intensive care unit is one of the largest in the nation, staffed by neurocritical care intensivists 24/7.

 

The Institute continuously improves the quality of care delivered to patients through the latest advancements in minimally invasive surgery, including the recent implementation of endoscopic minimally invasive spine surgery. These innovative surgical techniques have contributed to a reduction in the length of stay and recovery times for patients, and the Institute also realized a combined 10.5 percent reduction in cost per care encounter across neurological and spine care service lines.

 

Recently, TGH became one of the few academic health systems across the country and one of five in the state of Florida to offer MRI-guided focused ultrasound treatments for movement disorders. And in partnership with the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa General’s Neuroscience Institute is actively conducting more than 144 clinical trials, which are directly advancing the standard of care provided both within the academic health system and more broadly across the industry.

 

“We are proud to be recognized as one of the leading neuroscience programs in the nation,” said Dr. Clifton Gooch, who serves as chair of Neurology and associate dean of Clinical Research at the USF Morsani College of Medicine, as well as chief of the TGH Neuroscience Institute, neurology, and vice president of clinical and translational research at Tampa General Hospital. “Our research capabilities make it possible for us to continue raising the bar for clinical best practices within the specialty and turning our investigations into real, innovative care for our patients.”

 

“Everything we do at the TGH Neuroscience Institute is grounded in providing a better quality of life for our patients and this recognition is a reflection of our team’s shared commitment to achieving that goal,” said Dr. Harry van Loveren, chair of the Department of Neurosurgery and chief of the TGH Neuroscience Institute, neurosurgery. “We are proud of the truly patient-centric, collaborative and multidisciplinary approach our team brings to the table as we continue innovating to deliver new and better minimally invasive surgical options for patients with neurological and spine conditions.”

 

Further, the Institute earned Level 4 center accreditation designation by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NEC) and is stroke-certified through the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC), as well as being a state-designated spinal cord and brain injury center by the Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Program (BSCIP) of Florida.

 

“The dedication and depth and breadth of expertise of the team at the TGH Neuroscience Institute is the reason we are able to offer more neurological services than anyone in the region and why we continue to be recognized for the level of world-class care we provide,” said Thomas Cairo, senior administrator, Neurosciences, Orthopaedics, and Behavioral Health.

 

TGH recently announced plans to construct a new 13-story, 565,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art TGH Surgical, Neuroscience & Transplant Pavilion, which will provide 144 patient beds, 32 operating suites and increased intensive care unit (ICU) capacity. In addition, there will be space for education and training, emergency response and sterile processing, along with two floors reserved for future growth. This building is the flagship of Tampa General’s $550 million Master Facility Plan, which was designed to meet the growing need for care in the region and across the state of Florida.

 

This latest recognition by Becker’s also follows Tampa General’s recent “high performing” designation for Neurology & Neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report for 2023-2024, meaning the health system is ranked among the top 10 percent of hospitals in the nation. Tampa General was also named one of the top hospitals in the country for Stroke care and ranked in the top 50 in the nation for Rehabilitation by U.S. News & World Report.

 

Becker’s Hospital Review is a leading source of hospital business news and analysis for the health care industry. The list highlights exceptional neuroscience and spine programs nationwide. Tampa General and the remainder of the 2023 honorees are profiled online here.