Northwestern Medicine launches neurosurgery program at Palos Hospital

Patients in the south suburbs of Chicago will now have convenient access to Northwestern Medicine’s neurosciences program. A neurosurgery clinic featuring Drew A. Spencer, MD, a board-certified neurological surgeon, is now seeing patients at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital.

“Neurosurgical disease frequently requires emergent care and life-saving procedures to be provided in a timely fashion,” said Babak S. Jahromi, MD, PhD, vice chair of regional neurosurgery, Northwestern Medicine. “We want to ensure our patients have access when seconds count. In addition, patients are more adherent to pre- and post-operative care when they can see their physician closer to home.”

Dr. Spencer provides comprehensive neurosurgical care for a wide range of conditions, including brain tumors and spine disorders. Initially he will perform some surgical cases at Palos Hospital and more complex cases at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Over the next year, Northwestern Medicine will develop an inpatient program at Palos Hospital that includes a neuro intensive care unit. The goal is to eventually perform most neurosurgical procedures at Palos Hospital.

“This is a unique opportunity to build a neurosurgical program from the ground up and put the Northwestern Medicine stamp on it,” said Dr. Spencer. “This community deserves the highest quality neurosurgery services. It is exciting to address the needs of patients with complex conditions close to home.”

Northwestern Medicine has been providing neurohospitalist consult services at Palos Hospital since July. On November 1st, Northwestern Medicine will launch telestroke services at the hospital. The telestroke program features a two-way video and audio system that allows stroke neurologists from the Comprehensive Stroke Center at Northwestern Memorial Hospital to meet with stroke patients virtually 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The physicians conduct virtual exams and collaborate with the emergency medicine teams at Palos Hospital.

Over the next several months, Northwestern Medicine outpatient specialty clinics will open in the south suburbs to care for patients with neuromuscular diseases, sleep conditions, movement disorders, neurovascular disorders, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and more.

Dr. Spencer is a graduate of the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. He was the chief medical resident at the McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University and trained under the leaders of Northwestern Medicine’s neurosurgery department.

“Dr. Spencer is one of our best chief residents to have graduated from our program,” said Dr. Jahromi, “He is a thoughtful and compassionate physician with superb surgical skills, and will be an excellent leader to train the local team at Palos Hospital.”

Northwestern Medicine provides world-class, comprehensive care for the full range of injuries and diseases of the brain and spine, including rare diseases. Northwestern Memorial Hospital is ranked No. 9 in the country for Neurology & Neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report in its 2021-2022 “America’s Best Hospitals” ranking.

To learn more about Northwestern Medicine, visit http://news.nm.org/about-northwestern-medicine.html.