Carondelet Health Network has announced that it will open a neurological institute in December at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tucson.

The Tucson area suffers from a shortage of neurosurgeons, forcing many patients to go to Phoenix for treatment.

By creating the Carondelet Neurological Institute, officials say they hope to attract more neurosurgeons to Tucson to provide one-stop, around-the-clock care for patients with severe brain and spinal injuries.

The new, 25,000-square-foot institute will feature 42 beds, three operating suites, and cutting-edge technology.

The new technology, called BrainSUITE iCT, will provide neurosurgeons with high-speed imagery of the brain and spine during surgery. Tucson will be the first place in North America to offer BrainSUITE iCT.

The $80 million expansion also includes a neurological outpatient center that is scheduled to open in March.

Dr. Bruce M. Coull, head of clinical neurology at University Medical Center, told the Tucson Citizen that he believes the neurological institute will be a good addition to medical care in southern Arizona.

"It will raise the bar for everyone," he said. "What we'll see in the city, other institutes may in response try to improve their services."

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For more information:

"Carondelet to open neurological institute at St. Joseph's," Tucson Citizen, 06/27/2007

"Neurology center, Biosphere change are positive signs," Arizona Daily Star, 07/02/2007