Stroke Care
Two hospitals within Memorial Health have been recognized by The Joint Commission for excellence in stroke care, earning designations as Stroke Centers. Springfield Memorial Hospital and Decatur Memorial Hospital both underwent comprehensive on-site evaluations and are dedicated to quick response, advanced treatment and comprehensive rehabilitation. Jacksonville Memorial Hospital, Lincoln Memorial Hospital and Taylorville Memorial Hospital are all designated as "Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals."
Springfield Memorial Hospital earned certification as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, one of only ten Illinois hospitals to achieve that designation.
Decatur Memorial Hospital earned designation as a Primary Stroke Center. The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval recognizes Decatur Memorial Hospital's comprehensive stroke team: emergency and medical physicians, neurointerventional radiologists, neurologists, neuropsychologists, neurosurgeons, vascular surgeons, radiologists, radiology technicians, physical/occupation/speech therapists and a stroke coordinator.
The designation recognizes the following:
Highly qualified physicians in key medical specialties including neurology, neurosurgery, diagnostic and interventional neuroradiology, neuro critical care and emergency medicine
Hospital staff with unique, ongoing training
Latest technology to provide patients with full spectrum of treatment options and interventions
24/7 expert care for most complex stroke patients
Springfield Memorial Hospital Stroke Outcomes
An estimated six million people in the United States have an unruptured brain aneurysm. The annual rate of rupture is 8-10 per 100,000 people or about 30,000 people in the U.S. annually. Stroke risk factors include: smoking, high blood pressure or cholesterol, diabetes, coronary or heart disease, recurring headaches, family history of aneurysms or strokes, polycystic kidney disease.
Brain injuries
The Memorial Traumatic Brain Injury Program offers a broad range of services for head injury patients, from trauma care through outpatient rehabilitation. We specialize in treatment of both non-traumatic and traumatic brain injuries, including a neurologic special care unit for patients who require a higher nurse-patient ratio and intensive monitoring.
Significant physical, cognitive and behavioral changes commonly occur in the weeks after a brain injury. We help patients regain their ability to bathe, dress, eat and drink, walk and use the bathroom. We also encourage and educate family members about changes brought about by brain injury and prepare them to help their loved one perform basic care.
Technology and evidence-based practice ensure treatment models are up-to-date and incorporate the latest advances in brain injury research, including:
a partial body weight support system;
electrical stimulation including Bioness L-300 and H200;
standing frames;
specialty wheelchairs;
The Proprio 4000, a computer-controlled balance platform.
Full recovery from a brain injury often takes months. Rehab physicians, nurses and therapists help patients understand the diagnosis and prognosis for recovery. Staff members offer strategies to family members to help the patient progress and transition to home. When appropriate, the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program supports, educates, trains and makes referrals.
Once discharged from hospital, most patients require additional therapy. Memorial provides outpatient rehabilitation services and works with home health agencies to make home therapy services available. We coordinate with closer-to-home facilities and appropriate state agencies to help patients and families receive needed services.
Call 217-788-3300 with questions between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Spinal cord injuries
Memorial’s inpatient spinal cord rehabilitation program specializes in treatment of traumatic and non-traumatic spinal cord dysfunction as well as patients with paralysis due to illnesses including Guillian Barre syndrome, transverse myelitis and multiple sclerosis.
The intensive treatment program helps address the many life changes that result from spinal cord dysfunction. Physicians and therapists help patient understand diagnosis and prognosis for recovery, maximizing time in the hospital.
Outpatient rehab services works with home health agencies to make home services available and coordinates with closer-to-home facilities and appropriate state agencies to ensure patient and family receive services.
Highlights of our program include:
Assistance to help patient (when ready) regain ability to bathe, dress, eat and drink and use the bathroom (including wheelchair skills and walking)
Three to five hours of therapy each day that may include home evaluations, community outings, peer support groups, biweekly educational classes and peer mentors
Partial body weight support system, lite gait, electrical stimulation including Bioness L-300 and H200, standing frames, specialty wheelchairs and the Proprioceptor 4000
Support, education, training and resource referrals for family members targeted to patient’s transition home
Epilepsy Center
Springfield Memorial Hospital is home to the only Level 3 adult epilepsy center in Springfield. It is accredited by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC) and provides a range of diagnostic evaluations and treatments including medical, neuropsychological, surgical and psychosocial services to treat patients diagnosed with epilepsy.
NAEC Level 3 Epilepsy Center
Click here to learn more.
Neurosciences
Memorial serves patients with a broad range of complex and common neurological health needs, including stroke, brain tumors, traumatic brain injuries, diseases of the brain including Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s, spinal cord injuries and diseases of the nerves like multiple sclerosis, as well as afflictions of the brain including migraines and seizures.
We utilize the latest technology, provide comprehensive and compassionate care and partner with physician specialty groups in central Illinois including SIU School of Medicine, Springfield Clinic and Pathology Associates of Central Illinois.
Advanced diagnostic imaging
The Memorial neurointerventional radiology suite features the latest technology and tools to enable our team to provide patients with the most advanced care available.
Advanced diagnostic image services include:
Computerized Tomography (CT) with brain perfusion
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), 3T and 1.5T
MRI spectroscopy
Functional MRI (fMRI)
MRI Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography (SPECT/CT)
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
Digital Subtraction Angiography
Transcranial and Carotid Doppler Ultrasound
CT and MRI Angiography with perfusion analysis