New neurological sciences center holds open house

Among the many staff members at the new neurological sciecnces center are, front row from left: Amber Humphrey, Kristi Rice, Lizz Boyd and Sherri Burkle; second row from left: Ty Soares, M.D., Meliha Avdic, Robin Wood, Talia Roberson, Tina Boots, Nina LeGrand, Betty Maloney and Kimo Herfel; and third row from left: Kenneth Follett, M.D., Donna Mruz, Catherine Drueppel, Kim Woods and Pierre Fayad, M.D.

An open house was held Sept. 19 to allow guests a chance to see the new UNMC Physicians Neurological Sciences Center.

The center, which opened in May, is in the Clarkson Doctors Building North Suite 650 and offers patients a state-of-the-art facility double the size of the previous clinic.

“We have built a regional center of referral for patients with neurologic disease, where outstanding expertise in the medical, diagnostic and surgical skills has been assembled through the department of neurological sciences, the section of neuro surgery and the pain program,” said Pierre Fayad, M.D., Reynolds Centennial Professor and chairman of neurological sciences. “This is the only center of its kind in the region housing neurologists, neurosurgeons and pain physicians in the same clinic setting.

“Having an accessible and aesthetically pleasing environment where patient care processes flow unimpeded by the structural or specialty walls is critical to patient comfort and care. The center’s design, structure and use of advanced technology and equipment makes it one of a kind regionally, if not nationally.”

The new center was created to meet the needs of multiple specialty providers and their individual practice requirements as well as offer the level of comfort and convenience that each department felt was important for patients.

“The limitations in space availability presented a challenge in identifying, liberating, designing and building the center to satisfy its objectives and mission,” said Kenneth Follett, M.D., professor and chief of neurosurgery.

From left: Sherri Burkle, manager of the UNMC Physicians Neurological Sciences Center; Cory Shaw, UNMC Physicians chief executive officer; Glenn Fosdick, president and CEO of The Nebraska Medical Center; and Pierre Fayad, M.D., at the open house for the new neurological sciences center.

The center was designed with patient comfort and convenience in mind while also housing multiple specialties. Moving multiple departments and combining them into one location was another success for the center.

“Since we opened in May, ensuring communication to our patients and various departments and clinics as to where we are located and what providers have moved locations has been challenging at times,” said Sherri Burkle, the center’s manager. “The learning curve of scheduling for new providers and also how to coordinate the operation of multiple practice styles in the most efficient manner also has been a challenge we have encountered and successfully overcome.”

The center’s physicians and staff worked together ensuring UNMC Physicians patients receive the highest standard of care.

“A shared goal, vision and team commitment to provide excellent patient care has been key to the great start in our new clinic,” Burkle said. “The four different specialty areas working together for the first time in one clinic, under one roof, served by the same staff, has certainly made for a remarkable beginning.”

Featured speakers at the open house event included Cory Shaw, chief executive officer of UNMC Physicians; Glenn Fosdick, president and chief executive officer of The Nebraska Medical Center; and Drs. Fayad and Follett.