When a neurological emergency like a stroke strikes, every single minute counts. For years, East End residents in need of advanced endovascular interventions had to face stressful, 30-mile emergency transfers further west into Suffolk County. That critical gap in local healthcare has officially closed with the launch of the Bill and Ruth Ann Harnisch Neurosciences Center at Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead.
Representing a $7.3 million investment, boosted significantly by a $5 million philanthropic gift from Southampton residents Bill and Ruth Ann Harnisch, the new 1,545-square-foot facility equips Peconic Bay Medical Center as the first and only hospital in Eastern Suffolk County capable of executing mechanical thrombectomies. While standard stroke centers can administer intravenous clot-busting medications, acute ischemic strokes often require this specialized endovascular procedure, where surgeons thread micro-catheters directly into brain blood vessels to physically extract blockages. Bringing this life-saving capability to Riverhead drastically cuts down treatment delays, preserving precious brain function for patients across both the North and South Forks.
Beyond emergency stroke care, the state-of-the-art center establishes a centralized home for diagnosing and treating a broad spectrum of complex neurological conditions, ranging from brain aneurysms, carotid artery disease, and vascular malformations to chronic disorders like Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and severe migraines. To support this physical expansion, the hospital is also broadening its medical team by recruiting cranial neurosurgeons Dr. Robert Gawley Kerr and Dr. Martin Merenzon to work alongside leading spine specialist Dr. Robert Galler. This expanded surgical team marks the first time full cranial neurosurgery services will be routinely available in the local community, ensuring local families can access top-tier neurological care right in their own backyard.
East End Beacon:
🔗 https://www.eastendbeacon.com/pbmc-celebrates-mid-april-opening-of-neurosciences-center/
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