Wellstar Neuro Care
World-Class Care for your Brain, Spine & Nerve Health
People — including their brains, their nervous systems, their genetics — are all different. At Wellstar, you are not a stroke statistic, a chronic headache case or a spine condition.
You’re you, and we treat you that way.
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About
Neuro Care at Wellstar
Wellstar Neuro Care provides comprehensive treatment for back and neck pain, seizures, headaches and other complex conditions of the brain and spine.
We are wholly dedicated to helping patients regain control of their lives. Wellstar Neuro Care physicians are located throughout metro Atlanta and West Georgia to serve you and help you get the diagnostic tests and care you need to manage your condition and live a better life as soon as possible.
Our board-certified and fellowship-trained experts care for patients with strokes, aneurysms, tumors, seizures, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, migraine and headache disorders, Parkinson’s disease, neuropathy, and many more neurological conditions.
Our Care Philosophy
At Wellstar, we know there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to neurological care. That’s why our experts deliver highly personalized, compassionate treatments for the most complex neurological cases, so you can have peace of mind knowing you will receive world-class, tailored care specific to your needs.
Wellstar is the first health system in Georgia that belongs to the Mayo Clinic Care Network. Our specialists have a direct connection to Mayo Clinic and can request detailed consultations for complex cases, at no additional cost to you.
Not only is Wellstar is recognized for its high level of stroke care by organizations including The Joint Commission and The American Stroke Association, but we are also home to one of Georgia’s most comprehensive centers for treating headaches and migraines.
Multidisciplinary Approach
Wellstar offers a unique, collaborative network of care that’s difficult to find anywhere else. Patients benefit from a broad team of specialists whose expertise focus on all aspects of the care journey from diagnosis and treatment to recovery. That includes non-surgical treatment, the operating room, the neurological intensive care unit, and inpatient and outpatient neurological rehabilitation.
Patients have access to a true continuum of care at Wellstar, with specialists collaborating for coordinated care. Our neurologists and neuroimmunologists work closely with specialists across the system including neuroradiologists, neurophysiologists, neurosurgeons, vascular neurosurgeons, as well as physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians and therapists in a neurological settings.
Care coordinators and nurse navigators educate patients and families and help them transition between specialists and support services seamlessly, so they feel comfortable and empowered in their health.
Nationally-Recognized Care
Our team excels to meet and exceed national quality metrics. We are reviewed by outside organizations to ensure patients can count on the highest quality care and the best outcomes.
Our care for patients experiencing strokes is recognized by the American Stroke Association at hospitals across the system, including the highest recognition of Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award for Wellstar Kennestone, Cobb and North Fulton medical centers.
Our spine programs for back and neck pain are recognized as Centers of Excellence by Aetna and Blue Cross.
Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center and Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center are certified Comprehensive Stroke Centers by The Joint Commission. This is the highest level of stroke certification available.
The neurological intensive care units at Wellstar Kennestone, Cobb and North Fulton medical centers are Beacon-designated Neuro ICUs. The Beacon Award for Excellence is bestowed on hospital units that employ evidence-based practices to improve patient and family outcomes. Very few hospitals in the state have achieved this level of care.
Neuro Research & Clinical Trials
The Wellstar Research Institute and top industry partners have led the charge in providing state-of-the-art treatments for complex neurological conditions, often years before FDA approval.
Clinical trials close to home
For qualifying patients, clinical trials can offer access to new and cutting-edge treatments, procedures and technologies, often years before these therapies are approved by the FDA. Wellstar Health System is currently participating in many neurovascular clinical trials for stroke, aneurysm repair, brain contusions and other conditions.
Proven clinical success & excellence
The Wellstar Research Institute understands how clinical trials can advance the health of patients with neurological disorders, not only in the state of Georgia but across the entire nation. That’s why we work to enroll qualifying patients in groundbreaking clinical trials close to home.
Thanks to our clinical trial participants, many advanced therapies and enhanced practices for neurological disorders are now available more widely.
Participate & make a difference
Clinical trial participants are leaders in their own healthcare and help other patients have access to innovative treatments, technologies and procedures. Depending on your medical history and neurological condition, there may be a clinical trial that’s right for you.
Support with the Wellstar Foundation
As a not-for-profit, gifts to the Wellstar Foundation make it possible to provide patients with additional resources and amenities for a higher level of comfort and care.
Every dollar donated supports Wellstar’s vision of delivering world-class healthcare, which is carried out through patient-centered programs, advancements in technology and making reliable healthcare available close to home. Your generosity also makes it possible to provide free diagnostic services to uninsured and underinsured patients every year.
For more information about how to support patients, visit the Foundation email [email protected] or call (770) 956-GIVE.
Neuro Care Stories
Services
- Neurosurgery — Brain & Spine
- Brain & Spine Tumor Care
- Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery — Stroke & Aneurysm
- Neurocritical Care
- Neurology
- Headache Center
- Neuroimmunology for Multiple Sclerosis
- Movement Disorders
- Epilepsy, Seizures & Other Neurophysiological Disorders
- Pain Management
- Chiropractic
- Neuro Rehabilitation
- Electroencephalograms (EEG)
- Cerebral angiogram
- Nerve conduction studies/ Electromyography (EMG)
- Prescription-based therapy
- Botulinum toxin injections
- Nerve blocks
- Tenecteplase therapy
- Thrombectomy and stent placement
- Aneurysm repair
- Intracranial and extracranial stent
- Targeted radiation for brain tumors
- Microneurosurgery
- Endovascular surgery
- Endoscopic pituitary surgery
- Neurotrauma surgery
- Minimally-invasive/complex spine surgery
- Vagal Nerve Stimulation (VNS)
Locations
News & Events
Related Articles
Highlights
Reducing Your Risk of a Stroke
While strokes have become relatively common—more than 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—many risk factors for stroke can be managed in partnership with your healthcare provider.
Managing your risk factors
Factors that can increase your risk of experiencing a stroke include:
High blood pressure
Hypertension, or elevated blood pressure, increases the risk of a stroke. Stay up to date on your annual physicals to know your blood pressure levels, and if you have hypertension, talk to your provider about managing it. “High blood pressure is the most modifiable risk factor, meaning it’s the one that is most treatable and has the most impact on one’s risk,” said Wellstar Neurologist Dr. Ashis Tayal. “It is vastly underdiagnosed and when it is treated, it’s often undertreated.”
High cholesterol
Elevated cholesterol can lead to plaque buildup in the blood vessel and clotting in the blood, which can cause a stroke if the clot travels and blocks blood flow to the brain. Your primary care provider can help you monitor your cholesterol with a blood test and manage levels with medications or lifestyle changes.
Diabetes
People with diabetes are at increased risk of experiencing a stroke. Talk to your provider about diabetes screenings. If you are diabetic, discuss managing the condition in partnership with your provider.
Smoking
“Cigarettes accelerate atherosclerosis, or clogging in the arteries, and cause inflammation in blood vessels that then increases people’s risk of stroke and heart attack,” Dr. Tayal said.
Atrial fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation, a heart arrhythmia, can cause clots that then travel to the brain, leading to a stroke, according to Dr. Tayal.
While many of these risk factors can be controlled through medication or lifestyle changes in partnership with a healthcare provider, other risk factors for stroke are out of a person’s control. People of any age can experience a stroke, but stroke risk increases with age.
The risk of having a first stroke is nearly twice as high for Black adults as for white adults, and Black adults and Pacific Islander adults have the highest rates of death from stroke, according to the CDC. Hypertension is more common in Black patients, Dr. Tayal noted. People in rural communities may also experience higher rates of stroke due to limited access to healthcare and nutritious foods, he added.
To help lower stroke rates in our communities, Wellstar Community Health will distribute around 100 blood pressure cuffs in 2023 and educate community members about stroke risk and blood pressure monitoring at Wellstar Mobile Markets. The blood pressure cuffs can be used to monitor blood pressure at home so patients can work with their providers to take action against hypertension.
Recognizing a stroke
Learn the warning signs of a stroke, and if you notice any of these in yourself or someone else, be fast and call 911 right away.
Balance
Look for a sudden loss of balance or coordination. This can also appear as a sudden, severe headache or dizziness.
Eyes
Blurred vision, double vision or loss of vision can be signs of a stroke. If you think someone else may be having a stroke, ask if they are having trouble seeing out of one or both eyes.
Face
One side of the face may be feeling numb or appear to be drooping. Ask the person to smile and see if it appears uneven.
Arms
Check for sudden arm weakness or numbness. See if the person can lift both arms without one drifting downward.
Speech
Watch out for slurred speech or difficulty speaking. Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence to find out if they are having trouble talking.
Time
The more treatment is delayed, the more the brain is damaged. Don’t wait to seek care. If you notice any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately.
Highlights
Stroke prevention and the future of stroke care
This article was originally published on
Atlanta Business Chronicle on May 19, 2023.
Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. The Georgia Department of Public Health reports the state had the 12th highest stroke death rate in the country. Georgia is also part of the “stroke belt,” an area of the southeastern United States with stroke death rates 30% higher than the rest of the nation.
As the leading — but preventable — cause of disability, stroke can happen at any age.
Stroke is a medical emergency, meaning the blood flow to an area of the brain is cut off, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients. When this happens, brain cells start to die and abilities controlled by that area of the brain, such as speech or muscle control, are lost.
New drugs and new advanced treatments — such as the Tigertriever and Artemis — are helping reduce the death and disability impact of stroke, as well as comprehensive care programs and innovative hospital partnerships that expand stroke services into rural areas.
Physicians from Wellstar Health System and the CEO of a hospital in northeast Georgia joined Atlanta Business Chronicle to discuss stroke prevention and the future of stroke care.
Panelists & moderator
- Dr. Rishi Gupta, Endovascular Neurologist and Co-Medical Director of Neuro Care
- Dr. Ashis Tayal, Vascular Neurologist, Wellstar, Director of Neuro Care Network
- Van Loskoski, CEO, Stephens County Hospital
- David Rubinger, Market President & Publisher, Atlanta Business Chronicle; Moderator
What is stroke, screening and secondary prevention
David Rubinger: Dr. Tayal, set the stage for us about the definition of stroke.
Dr. Ashis Tayal: A stroke is a sudden injury of the brain due to blockage or rupture of an artery in the brain. Injuries to the brain and disability can vary significantly.
The most common, ischemic stroke injury, is due to obstruction of an artery that causes a loss of blood flow to a critical part of the brain which damages the brain rapidly.
The other type of stroke is hemorrhagic stroke, where there’s a rupture of an artery, bleeding into the brain, or the surfaces of the brain, and that is called an intracerebral hemorrhage or a subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Rubinger: I think Americans have become a little better educated as to who’s at risk for stroke, but why don’t you walk us through that. Who would be a potential stroke candidate?
Tayal: High blood pressure, or hypertension, is the most common risk factor for both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. High blood pressure is an extremely common but controllable condition. Almost 80% of people have hypertension as they’re getting older.
Other risk factors include diabetes associated with elevated blood sugars causing accelerated blockage of arteries and high cholesterol, which can be related to diet and genetics.
Atrial fibrillation, a common heart arrhythmia that occurs as people get older, also places people at risk for the most severe and disabling types of strokes. And plaque buildup in specific arteries of the neck and brain also leads to an increased risk of stroke.
Smoking is another risk factor. Many adults still smoke despite a lot of progress in stroke treatment, and smoking puts people at risk for different types of stroke.
Rubinger: What about atmospheric things like stress and other areas like that? How does that play into it? Or do those things manifest themselves because of the other underlying physical conditions?
Tayal: I don’t view stress, in and of itself, as a risk factor for stroke. I think that’s more related to people’s environments and their own personalities and how they respond to stress. I do think people who are under undue stress can have poor lifestyle habits, and those poor lifestyle habits, whether poor eating habits, smoking, weight gain or lack of exercise, can lead to conditions that increase the risk for stroke.
Rubinger: So how is the healthcare system doing treating strokes? Do you believe that what’s going on at the primary care provider’s office is helping or do we have a way to go?
Tayal: In the United States, preventive care has improved the treatment of risk factors that lead to stroke, but communities must maintain routine checkups as many of the risk factors are silent.
There are improved treatments for hypertension, more aggressive treatment for diabetes, and more efforts at smoking cessation. Just the fact that we treat hypertension better than we did a generation ago has had a great impact on lowering the prevalence of stroke.
That being said, some of the most exciting work on stroke has often been done in the area of acute treatment of stroke with clot-busting drugs, catheter-based treatments and medications to protect the brain during an acute injury.
Rubinger: Has pharmacology gotten better in terms of the hypertension medicines that are out there? Have anti-cholesterol medicines improved in recent years?
Tayal: In the past, healthcare providers were often undertreating people with hyperlipidemia — high cholesterol — and not fully appreciating the benefits of significant reductions in cholesterol levels. For example, we’ve learned that driving cholesterol down into much lower ranges under 55 mg/dL can benefit our patients who have vascular disease as a cause for their stroke.
In the fight against high cholesterol, newer medications that prevent the absorption of cholesterol are now available. Recent developments have led to the discovery of a new underutilized class of drugs called PCSK-9 inhibitors that are highly effective.
Article
Wellstar Saves Lives with Advanced Stroke Care
No one expects to have a stroke — much less one that is rare or complicated to treat. However, these life-threatening medical events can happen to anyone, at any time.
That’s why Wellstar now offers the highest level of stroke care at two key locations: Wellstar Kennestone Hospital and Wellstar North Fulton Hospital. Here, patients have access to cutting-edge treatments, advanced technology and an expert neuro team, ready to treat even the most complex strokes.
Our primary stroke centers — including Wellstar Cobb Hospital and Wellstar Spalding Regional Hospital — are also poised to deliver high-quality stroke care where it’s needed most.
“Wellstar has nine hospitals that provide stroke care in our network,” said Dr. Rishi Gupta, director of stroke and neurocritical care with Wellstar Health System. “Each of these locations is in communities that have high stroke rates in metro Atlanta.”
Wellstar is the leading provider of stroke and aneurysm services in the state and performs one of the highest numbers of thrombectomy and aneurysm treatments in the country.