New neuroscience institute launches in St. Pete

Orlando Health, the private non-profit that runs Bayfront Hospital, announced Tuesday the latest addition to the St. Pete Innovation District: The Orlando Health Neuroscience Institute – Bayfront.

With a new facility expected to be fully complete in 2025, the already-in-operation Neuroscience Institute will bring together existing local resources such as Bayfront's Level 4 Epilepsy and Comprehensive Stroke Centers with additional staff, a new neuro ICU facility and new resources. When complete, the Neuroscience Institute will anchor the Orlando Health Medical Pavilion – Institute Square.

"It really gives us a one-stop shop, if you will, for neurosciences," said John Moore , President of Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital. "We've been working on this over several months. We have the longest standing Level 4 epilepsy program in the area, and [we're] wrapping around that the acquisition of Central Neurology, the largest neurology provider."

Orlando Health took over then-independent Bayfront Hospital in 2020, in the wake of a period of turmoil for the downtown St. Petersburg medical center. Following Orlando Health's acquisition, Bayfront has seen its marks for safety and service delivery improve from a D to a B, according to the Leapfrog Group .

The Neuroscience Institute is yet another step to ensure patients of all walks of life will receive the fastest and best care in Pinellas County's only Level II Adult Trauma Center, said Dr. Lowell Dawson, the facility's Stroke Medical Director.

"Patients admitted through our trauma center often suffer from debilitating neurological conditions including head injuries," explained Dawson. "What we're trying to do in Pinellas County is provide comprehensive neurological care."

Neurological issues are the number one cause of illness and disability worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Since 1990, there has been an 18% increase in illness, disability, and death caused by such conditions. According to a study in the medical journal , three billion people worldwide suffer from a neurological condition.

"Outcomes are much better when it's an interdisciplinary approach," he added, citing the reduced wait times and improved patient outcomes that will come from neurologists, neuroendovascular specialists and neurosurgeons sharing one central facility.

That facility will also showcase the Institute's advanced resources such as viz-AI, which provides advanced image analysis for patients who may be suffering a stroke. "This tool significantly lessens the time it takes for evaluation and the development of treatment plans," said Dawson.

The Neuroscience Institute is the second announced tenant at Bayfront's Institute Square after a new cancer and orthopedic center , which is also set to open in 2025.

"We continue to evaluate what else we can add to create an easy-to-approach care model for our patients," added Moore.

The end result will be continuing the trend of improved patient care at Bayfront.

"Everyone wants to provide great patient care, from administration to frontline staff," Dawson said. "We don't want you to think you have to go across the bridge to get excellent patient care."

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