27 Mar 2017 Health system, neurologists create neuroscience center
Neurologists Tim Freyaldenhoven and Keith Schluterman have combined their practices into a partnership with Conway Regional Health System to form the Conway Regional Neuroscience Center. Previously, the two physicians operated Arkansas Neurology in Conway.
The Conway Regional Neuroscience Center opened on Feb. 20 and is located in Suite 305 on the third floor of the Conway Regional Medical Plaza at the same location as the physicians’ clinics. Current patients should expect few changes.
“Our patients will continue to have the same physicians and same excellent staff in place,” said Freyaldenhoven. “A major change for us is that we will get to focus more time on clinical care and less on business operations. This partnership secures neurology coverage for Conway Regional and will enable them to recruit additional neurologists to help us accommodate the needs of Faulkner County.”
Schluterman said, “This will also lessen our anxiety regarding insurance coverage and fee schedule changes as well as inflation of practice costs. We believe this partnership will improve continuity of care. Medical records will become more integrated and a patient’s clinical care can be directly carried over to hospital admissions.”
Conway Regional President and CEO Matt Troup said, “We will manage the business side of the practice so Dr. Freyaldenhoven and Dr. Schluterman can focus on patient care, both in the center and in the hospital.”
Troup added, “The creation of the Conway Regional Neuroscience Center is part of our ongoing efforts to partner with our physicians. The center provides a vehicle for us to expand neurological and sleep services to the community. By aligning with Dr. Freyaldenhoven and Dr. Schluterman, we can grow their practice. It is significant that all the neurologists in Conway are aligned with Conway Regional. This will enable us to recruit to a specialty that is experiencing a national shortage.”
A study published in the “Neurologist,” the Journal of the American Academy of Neurology, indicated that the national shortage of neurologists is expected to grow to a 19 percent shortfall by 2025.
“We are excited for this partnership with Drs. Schluterman and Freyaldenhoven. It’s becoming more common for hospitals outside of major metropolitan areas to struggle with a consistent neurology presence,” said Rebekah Fincher, corporate director of physician relations and business development. “This partnership ensures neurology care for the community and provides Conway Regional the ability to grow and expand the neuroscience service line.”
Drs. Freyaldenhoven and Schluterman have shared the same office space since 2004 and have been friends since medical school. Both received their medical degrees from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences at Little Rock. They have provided neurological care to Faulkner and surrounding counties since 2002, when Freyaldenhoven joined the Conway Regional Medical Staff. Schluterman followed in 2004. They are graduates of Hendrix College.
Both physicians are board certified in general neurology and sleep medicine, and the next step will be partnering with Conway Regional to open a sleep disorders center at Conway Regional Medical Center.
Neurologists are physicians who treat illnesses of the brain and neurological system, including multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, neuropathies and sleep disorders as well as the effects of strokes.
The Conway Regional Neuroscience Center has seven staff members, all of whom work for Conway Regional. Freyaldenhoven and Schluterman are not employed by the health system.
A referral from a primary care physician is required to make an appointment with a neurologist. The phone number for the center is the same as the two neurologists’ offices, 501.932.0352.
