|
Albert Brooks knew that the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
funded clinical research at the country's leading university
hospitals. What Brooks
didn't know was that when he suffered a stroke, he would
not have to travel far to receive the cutting-edge care that
ultimately saved his life.
Brooks, 64, is among a growing number of South Florida
residents participating in clinical trials conducted
locally at South Florida
Medical Imaging (SFMI).
Expanding the Role of
Radiology
South Florida Medical Imaging was established in 1989 by
Michael Rush, M.D., to provide state-of-the-art
quality care 24 hours a day, seven days a week in the
community hospital setting.
At the time, Rush was contracted to operate the radiology
department at
North Ridge Medical Center. For the first four years, non-
diagnostic patient procedures at North Ridge increased
25 percent.
In 1995, the practice expanded to Palmetto
General Hospital in Miami- Dade County, and
again to Hollywood Medical Center in 1997.
The growth of the practice has been fueled by active
participation in FDA-approved
clinical research in nuclear medicine and interventional
radiology. "The research we do is unique to a community
hospital setting," explained Dr. Rush. "The studies involve
procedures and techniques that are not
commonly known or widely available. Yet, they provide
benefits to patients
like Mr. Brooks and his family."
Interventional Radiology:
The Wave of the Future
Interventional Radiology (IR) grew in the mid-1970s as
advancements in CT, MRI and ultrasound
made it easier for physicians to see inside the
body. Using radiological imaging, interventional
radiologists steer guide wires and
catheters throughout the body to diagnose and treat disease.
The procedures are performed percutaneously, through a one-
to
two-millimeter incision, and are less traumatic than
surgical incisions. Because IR procedures are
routinely performed on an outpatient basis,
they offer patients limited risk, lower cost and quicker
recovery than
the surgical alternative.
For Pompano Beach resident Fred Lachoff, innovations in the
field
of interventional radiology saved him from a lifetime of
dialysis
treatment. According to the 67-year-old retiree, doctors
recommended dialysis when one kidney failed and the other
presented signs of renal artery
stenosis. After two dialysis treatments, Lachoff
was referred to Bush, who developed a stent to prop open
Lachoff's renal
artery to its full diameter and allow blood to flow
properly.
"Since the stent procedure, I have not had to return to
dialysis and
my kidneys are saved," Lachoff said.
|
The Group
South Florida Medical Imaging is not an "ordinary"
radiology practice.
The number of clinical research trials in which its
physicians participate over a two-county region allow
the group to offer the most innovative,
minimally invasive techniques to a broad base of
patients.
"We provide research procedures at three facilities, 24
hours a day, seven
days a week," said Rush, who has been called to other
hospitals
to lend his expertise on an emergency basis.
SFMI also holds the distinction of being the only
radiology practice
with admitting privileges in Broward County. Dr. Rush
had over 50 admissions in the last
year. This, combined with the group's commitment
to clinical research, attracts patients across the state
and even the nation to one of the three
community hospitals where SFMI is based.
But, Rush concedes, the allure of his practice would not
be possible without the support
of a highly trained staff.
In addition to 14 radiologists, which include the upper
three to four percent from the
nation's most distinguished research hospitals, SFMI's
team also includes technologists, nurses,
anesthesiologists and the committed support
of administration from Palmetto General Hospital and
North Ridge and Hollywood Medical centers.
Practicing on the
Cutting Edge
Arterial disease is the leading cause of death in the
United States. It
can cause heart disease and kidney failure. Major
surgery has been
the traditionally accepted, preferred course of
treatment of these patients. However, clinical research
has allowed interventional radiology to step
into this domain with promising, minimally invasive
techniques.
"Research continues to drive the growth of this field,"
said Rush.
"By participating in FDA-approved clinical trials,
groups such as ours are able to push
the envelope and offer the latest, most advanced
treatments available to our patients."
Dr. Rush began participating in FDA research to treat
vascular insufficiency in 1987. In May of 1995, he and
his SFMI associates were first in the state
of Florida to successfully place a stent in a patient's
carotid artery. Today,
SFMI, which is fourth in the nation for recruitment in
this protocol,
continues to attract patients such as Albert Brooks for
the carotid stent procedure.
Currently, SFMI is third in the nation in the Cordis
ASPIRE trial,
which evaluates renal artery stenting to relieve
narrowing in the
renal arteries. Rush is also the principle investigators
in the Cordis Hydrolyzer trial,
which measures the efficacy of a catheter to remove
blood clots from thrombosed dialysis grafts more
effectively than surgery or drug
therapy.
"Our relationships with the country's leading
pharmaceutical and
medical device manufacturers help raise our levels of
expertise and allow us to bring
innovation and qualify care to patients experiencing
vascular insufficiency," Rush said. Fort Lauderdale
physician
Leslie Crescimano agrees. "Rush practices on the
cutting edge of his field and is well
respected for his expertise. If I ever needed an
interventional procedure, I wouldn't hesitate to turn to
him and his team."
"We're building our reputation, not only with patients,
but with physicians as well,"
explained Rush, who works closely with internists,
vascular surgeons and
other physicians to provide patients with the highest
level of care to meet
patients' individual needs.
The Future
Research continues to bring innovation to the field of
medicine and SFMI is helping to bring these advancements
to benefit patients and
medical professionals in the South Florida region.
"Advancements in medical research have become readily
available to a large
audience of potential patients via the Internet," Rush
continues. "Many of these
patients walk into their physicians' offices with
articles in hand, requesting more information.
"For Albert Brooks, a
former city of Sunrise employee, Dr. Rush inserted a
catheter into a two-millimeter incision in Brooks'
thigh. Using radiological imaging, Rush guided the
catheter to the carotid artery where a stent
was deployed to remodel the plaque that stopped blood
flow to Brooks' brain.
"It was miraculous,"
Brooks exclaimed. "I had friends who suffered stroked
and underwent extensive operations, lengthy recovery and
were left with
battle scars across their necks. I was home the same day
and returned to normal activities that
same week."
South Florida Medical Imaging continues to pursue
research contracts and to stay on the
cutting edge in their field. As a result, South Florida
patients can benefit and receive the innovative medical
care that
has traditionally been confined to the nation's leading
research facilities.
|
For More
Information Contact:
MD News Fort Lauderdale
5479 Pine Cir
Coral Springs, FL 33067
Tel: 954-227-0553
FAX: 954-227-0554 |
