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Baptist Health has formed the Baptist Neurology Group, a premier neurology practice in Northeast Florida. Composed of experienced local neurologists, the new practice offers three locations in Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach, with plans to add new sites in the future. This partnership is the result of a merging of existing neurology practices, and the recruitment of three neurologists to Jacksonville.
Not only will Baptist Neurology Group enhance geographic access to neurologists, but patients will now be able to consult with physicians representing various subspecialties of neurology in addition to general neurology services. These include:
• General neurologist and epileptologist Dr. Georgia Gianakakos, who specializes in epilepsy and other seizure disorders
• General neurologist and neurophysiologist Dr. Penelope Edwards-Conrad
• Neurocritical care and neuroendovascular therapy specialist, vascular neurologist and fellowship-trained stroke specialist Dr. Sean Orr, chief of neurology and medical director of the Stroke Center at Baptist Medical Center Downtown
• Fellowship-trained stroke specialist Dr. Amy Jarvis
• General neurologist and multiple sclerosis specialist Dr. Thomas Snyder, chief of Neurology at Baptist Medical Center Beaches
• General neurologists Dr. Syed Asad; Baptist Neurology Group Board Chair Dr. Carlos Gama; Dr. Christopher Potter and Dr. Karen Thalinger.
Orr says now is the perfect time to form Baptist Neurology Group in this community.
“Jacksonville’s at an intersection in time where we have a booming population with many residents of retirement age who are at high risk for neurological problems,” he said. “We’re also within the South’s ‘Stroke Belt’ and are seeing an increase in the need for neurological services while we are also experiencing a shortage of neurologists nationwide and in our community.
“By consolidating practices and services, Baptist Neurology offers the strengths of nine neurologists, each with his or her unique interests and subspecialization within neurology,” said Earl Mally, senior vice president of Baptist Physician Services. “Because of the reputation of Baptist Health and the neurologists within the practice, we will be able to attract new topnotch neurology talent to our community. And with the neurologists partnering with colleagues at Lyerly Neurosurgery, Baptist Health is offering this community a comprehensive neuroscience program.”
In 2009, the neurology and neurosurgery programs at Baptist Downtown were recognized among the top 50 in the country by U.S. News & World Report magazine.
“Another advantage of joining together is improved communication and enhanced collaboration,” said Snyder. “We will eventually all be on the same electronic medical record system that will communicate with Baptist Health’s Electronic Medical Record (EMR) program.”
Because of their affiliation with Baptist Health, Baptist Neurology Group neurologists have access to all of the health system’s services and subspecialists. These include neuroradiologists, pain management specialists, physical medicine and rehabilitation professionals, psychologists and psychiatrists, neuroimaging specialists, endovascular surgeons, sleep disorder specialists and critical care physicians, as well as physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, Home Health and other services. In the future, Baptist Medical Center Downtown will house a dedicated inpatient unit for neurology and neurosurgery inpatients.
Other plans for the future of Baptist Neurology Group include subspecialty clinics for headaches and migraines, as well as neuromuscular diseases. Already, Baptist Downtown and Baptist South house Joint Commission-certified Stroke Centers that offer evidence-based protocols, resulting in better patient outcomes. An Epilepsy Center is being developed by Gianakakos, while a Center for Memory Disorders is being established with the assistance of Mindy Grall with Baptist Neurology.