Fort Smith Regional Chamber Of Commerce: Mercy Fort Smith Adds Neurohospitalists, Expands Care For Hospitalized Patients

Press release from the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce:

October 19, 2021

Mardi L. Taylor Senior Media Relations & Communications Specialist Mercy Fort Smith (479) 462-7289 cell mardi.taylor@mercy.net Mercy Fort Smith Adds Neurohospitalists, Expands Care for Hospitalized Patients   Mercy Fort Smith Adds Neurohospitalists, Expands Care for Hospitalized Patients   Mercy Fort Smith Adds Neurohospitalists, Expands Care for Hospitalized Patients   FORT SMITH, Ark. (Oct 19, 2021) – Mercy Fort Smith has expanded the care it provides for patients suffering from a variety of neurological disorders, thanks to the addition of two new physicians.  Dr. Jacob Didion and Dr. Sujan Reddy joined Mercy to help provide care every day of the year for patients who are hospitalized for treatment of neurological disorders. The addition of the neurohospitalists at Mercy Fort Smith allows the hospital to care for more patients dealing with neurological issues, including:  stroke stroke seizures seizures headaches headaches multiple sclerosis multiple sclerosis Guillain-Barré syndrome Guillain-Barré syndrome myasthenia gravis autoimmune disorder  myasthenia gravis autoimmune disorder  “The expansion of the neurohospitalists program is part of the ongoing expansion of services planned at Mercy Fort Smith,” said Ryan Geib, chief operating officer at Mercy Hospital Fort Smith. “In just two years, we have added three board-certified, fellowship trained neurosurgeons and two ambulatory neurologists, in addition to two neurohospitalists. Our specialized physicians and teams of caregivers now offer the highest level of neurological care in the River Valley.”  Patients will benefit from this team’s expert levels of care and spend less time in the hospital, Geib continued.  “The presence of 365-day neurohospitalists complements and elevates our growing neurosciences programs, which now includes complete stroke treatment and intervention,” he said.   Providing expanded neurological care in the River Valley means patients can be treated closer to home, Dr. Reddy explained.  “ Our goal is to provide in-hospital stroke and neurological care to patients in and around Fort Smith and the River Valley area, so they don’t have to travel miles from their home to seek specialist care,” he said.   Dr. Reddy completed a residency and stroke fellowship at the University of Texas at Houston, earned a master’s degree in public health at the UT School of Public Health in Houston and graduated from Mahatma Gandhi Mission’s Medical School in India.  For Dr. Reddy, who joined Mercy in July 2020, the decision to focus on neurology came from an experience within his own family.   For Dr. Reddy, who joined Mercy in July 2020, the decision to focus on neurology came from an experience within his own family.   “After my grandfather was diagnosed with a meningioma (central nervous system tumor) and seizures while I was in medical school, I decided to pursue neurology to help patients like him,” Dr. Reddy said.  Similarly, a growing number of patients in need of neurological care influenced Dr. Didion to enter the field. Similarly, a growing number of patients in need of neurological care influenced Dr. Didion to enter the field. Dr. Didion joined Mercy in September 2021.  “I chose the field of neurology so I can provide care to a population of patients in great need,” Dr. Didion said. “In addition to this, I find this field very interesting and complex, particularly at this time as our management for conditions such as stroke and dementia continues to evolve.”  “I chose the field of neurology so I can provide care to a population of patients in great need,” Dr. Didion said. “In addition to this, I find this field very interesting and complex, particularly at this time as our management for conditions such as stroke and dementia continues to evolve.”  Dr. Didion earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Lyon College and his doctorate from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.  Mercy Mercy Mercy Mercy Mercy Mercy , named one of the top five large U.S. health systems for four consecutive years by IBM Watson Health, serves millions annually. Mercy , named one of the top five large U.S. health systems for four consecutive years by IBM Watson Health, serves millions annually. Mercy  is one of the nation’s most highly integrated, multi-state health care systems,   is one of the nation’s most highly integrated, multi-state health care systems,  includ includ ing ing  more than 40 acute care, managed and specialty (heart, children’s, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals,   more than 40 acute care, managed and specialty (heart, children’s, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals,  convenient urgent care locations, imaging centers and pharmacies. Mercy has  convenient urgent care locations, imaging centers and pharmacies. Mercy has  900 physician practices and outpatient facilities, more than 4,000 Mercy Clinic physicians and advanced practitioners and 40,000-plus  900 physician practices and outpatient facilities, more than 4,000 Mercy Clinic physicians and advanced practitioners and 40,000-plus  co-workers  serving patients and families across   serving patients and families across  Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Mercy also has clinics, outpatient services and outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Mercy also has clinics, outpatient services and outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.  In addition, Mercy's IT division, Mercy Technology Services, and Mercy Virtual commercially serve providers and patients from coast to coast.

This press release was produced by the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed here are the author’s own.