MSU, UM form unprecedented joint venture to grow neurological care in mid-Michigan – Grand Rapids Business Journal

University of Michigan Health and Michigan State University Health Care plan to expand neurological care in the Lansing area and mid-Michigan through a new joint venture.

The two formed the Neuro Care Network to partner on inpatient and outpatient care for patients with neurological diseases such as Parkinsons and dementia or who have suffered a stroke. The partnership includes inpatient and outpatient neurology, neurosurgery, electrodiagnostic and infusion services.

The partnership took effect immediately and marks an unprecedented collaboration between the states two leading academic institutions, University of Michigan President Santa Ono told the Board of Regents, which approved formation of the joint venture Thursday afternoon.

The Neuro Care Network will include practitioners from both institutions to enhance care in the region, Ono said.

Under this new agreement, a dedicated team of neurosurgeons and neurologists will provide world-class care at University of Michigan Health-Sparrow in Lansing and MSU Health Care in East Lansing, Ono said. Together, they will care for more patients, help recruit more neurology specialists to mid-Michigan and, most importantly, transform more lives.

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The partnership will bring a higher level of care in neurology to the mid-Michigan market at a time when incidence rates are rising. The Neuro Care Network will examine future community needs in the market and recruit specialists to mid-Michigan residents, alleviating the need for patients with complex conditions to travel elsewhere for the care they need.

Neurological care and neuroscience care, these are two areas where the diseases and the growth will only be higher, and there will only be more disease rates over time, MSU Health Care CEO Seth Ciabotti said. For us to come together and offer really world-class neurological care, neurological and neurosurgery care for mid-Michigan, and really the state, is something were really excited about. Its something that was lacking, frankly, within mid-Michigan.

On top of the clinical improvements, the partnership can increase clinical research in the region for neurological disease, said Margaret Dimond, president of the University of Michigan Health Regional Network.

Our top research institutions are aligned on expanding our clinical work and seeking more opportunities for research in the neuroscience area, Dimond said. This is a unique and progressive partnership that will set an example for multi-university collaboration on key diagnostic and treatment breakthroughs. It is just the best thing for mid-Michigan in terms of clinical and research for neurological conditions.

MSU Health Care and University of Michigan Health have collaborated for 40 years in a variety of different ways within the neurologic sciences, said Dr. David Kaufman, a professor of neurology and assistant vice president for clinical affairs for the Office of Health Sciences at MSU and medical director of neurology at UM Health-Sparrow.

Weve done this at clinical level research education, but never at this level, Kaufman said. This joint operating agreement helps unite this states top two research intensive universities for the clinical benefit of people within mid-Michigan.