By Karin Fleming and Debbie Ritenour, Vitals contributors

Sutter Health’s experienced neuroscience specialists have provided world-class care to thousands of patients living with complex brain and nervous system conditions, including a seasoned golfer with a Tarlov cyst, a 43-year-old mother with multiple sclerosis, and a scientist diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). Becker’s Hospital Review recently recognized the service line’s excellence by naming Sutter to its 2024 list of 100 hospitals and health systems with great neuroscience and spine programs.

In selecting the honorees, Becker’s considered nominations as well as ranking and accolades from U.S. News & World Report, Healthgrades and other sources. Several of the programs—including Sutter’s—are known for their robust research initiatives and pioneering clinical trials.

“This recognition underscores Sutter Health’s commitment to comprehensive and cutting-edge neurological services,” says Dr. Shawn Kile, a neurologist with Sutter Medical Group. “In addition to providing exceptional care to patients today, we are leading groundbreaking research that will transform the treatments and outcomes of tomorrow.”

Harnessing the Power of Technology

Sutter has long been an innovator and early adopted of technological advances in neuroscience. In 2009, Sutter launched its telestroke program at Sutter’s California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. In 2023, the system expanded the telestroke program across its footprint, providing patients in both urban and rural settings with 24/7 access to stroke neurologists who collaborate with bedside medical teams. In additional, the system’s mobile stroke unite, based out of Sutter’s Mills-Peninsula Medical Center in Burlingame, is one of only about 40 nationwide.

Sutter partnered with a neurovascular technology developer to integrate AI-powered imaging into stroke care across the system. This approach helps physicians more quickly diagnose stroke and make key care decisions, such as transferring stroke patients to one of Sutter’s specialty hospitals for emergency care with thrombectomy, helping save lives and reducing the likelihood of lifelong disability.

Sutter is also leveraging AI to detect epileptic seizures through a rapid response electroencephalogram (EEG) system, allowing physicians to quickly triage and better treat patients at risk of harmful brain patterns. The system provides ongoing, automatic monitoring of seizure activity and real-time feedback on treatment effectiveness.

Sutter’s Eden Medical Center recently acquired a state-of-the-art robotic exoscopy system—currently the only one in Northern California. The system streamlines surgeries for complex brain and spinal illnesses and injuries, offering significantly more precise visualization than traditional approaches to neurosurgery. In addition, Sutter will soon acquire a focused ultrasound machine at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, that can temporarily open the blood-brain barrier to improve the delivery of genes, growth factors, stem cells and other neuroprotective and/or neurorestorative drugs.

Conducting Cutting-Edge Research

Sutter is currently participating in more than 30 neuroscience clinical trials. Current and past clinical trials have explored the efficacy and safety of:

• The NeuroPace RNS® system, the first and only FDA-approved epilepsy neurostimulation device that can monitor and respond to brain activity
• The use of an investigational drug (fenebrutinib) for primary progressive multiple sclerosis
• Intrathecally administered gene therapy in patients with ALS caused by SOD1 mutations (SOD1-ALS)
• The delivery of stroke treatment through a mobile stroke unit compared with standard management by emergency medical services
• The use of Recombinant Factor VIIa to treat acute spontaneous hemorrhagic stroke
• The use of donanemab to prevent memory loss and cognitive decline in patients in the mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia stages of Alzheimer’s disease

In addition, Sutter’s Ray Dolby Brain Health Center at CPMC and the Sutter Memory Clinic at SMCS are nationally renowned centers of excellence for the treatment and care of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and other memory disorders.

Investing in Access

Sutter’s vision includes expanding services and increasing patient access to high-quality care. In April 2024, Sutter announced a $442 million investment for neurosciences care in the Mission Bernal neighborhood of San Francisco. With community support, Sutter will build a new, comprehensive advanced neurological and neurosurgical care complex adjacent to its existing CPMC Mission Bernal Campus hospital.

In October 2024, Sutter’s Ray Dolby Brain Health Center expanded to a second location at CPMC’s Davies Campus, increasing its capacity to provide cutting-edge treatments for Alzheimer’s and other memory disorders. The center plans to move to the Mission Bernal Care Complex in 2028.

Achieving and Exceeding Excellence

The inclusion in Becker’s list is just the latest recognition for Sutter’s neuroscience program. Sutter facilities have received national recognitions and awards for their neurological care, including:

• Primary Stroke Center Certification, The Joint Commission
• High-Quality Stroke Care, American Stroke Association
• Neurodiagnostic Laboratory Accreditation from the American Board of Registered Electroencephalographic Technologists
• Neurosciences excellence honors from Healthgrades
• Get With the Guidelines recognition, American Heart Association
• High-performing designation from S. News & World Report

To learn more about Sutter’s neurology services, go to the Sutter Health website.