Neurosurgeons break from Memorial; head trauma cases head to Penrose

Adults who suffer serious head injuries are no longer being treated at Memorial Health System because its neurosurgeons ended their contract in a dispute with administrators.

Memorial, whose downtown emergency department is the busiest in the state, is scrambling to restore its ability to accept head-trauma patients. For now, though, emergency crews are instructed to rely exclusively on Penrose-St. Francis Health Services for victims who may haveg a major head injury or neurological condition that could require surgery. Penrose is equipped to handle the extra load, and people should not have to go to Denver, said Penrose-St. Francis Chief Operating Officer Jamie Smith.

Memorial will continue to accept children with such head injuries, because the hospital system’s pediatric neurosurgeon, Dr. Paul Grabb, was not part of the dispute.

Colorado Springs Neurological Associates, which provides the lion’s share of the region’s neurology services, confirmed Friday through its attorney that it ended its contract with the city-owned hospital system in July. Of its nine physicians, five are neurosurgeons who provide the trauma services for both hospital systems.

“We terminated our on-call coverage agreement reluctantly and as a last resort,” said Andrew Stathopulos, the practice’s attorney. He said the impasse with Memorial was not over compensation, but neither Memorial or Stathopulos would say what disagreement was over.

Memorial’s chief medical officer, Dr. Manoj Pawar, said the hospital is “moving aggressively and quickly” to restore the lost services. Pawar did not give specifics, but he did not rule out recruiting doctors from out of town.

“We’ll look at all options. If we need to bring docs in to make sure the community gets the care it needs, we’d be fully willing to do that.”

The hospital is working with The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to keep its Level 2 trauma designation. Pawar said that designation, the second-highest possible, is not in jeopardy.

Severe head injuries are a small percentage of total emergency department visits, both hospitals said.

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