Neurocritical Care Unit (NCCU)

Opened on May 15, 2018
Provides expert neurospecialist care to patients with acute neuromedical and neurosurgical conditions affecting the brain and spinal cord
Patient-centered and interprofessional care
Provides acute consultation services in the emergency department and intensive care units at MetroHealth
Serves as an acute neurosciences training platform for medical students, residents, fellows, and advanced practice providers

NCCU Room

Neurointensivists

Agnieszka A. Ardelt, MD, PhD, MBA | Department Chair of Neurology

Ari M. Wachsman MD

Theodore Bowen, MD

Jonah Grossman, MD

Neuroscience Nursing

*The dedicated specialized neurocritical care and neurology nurses, care partners, and unit secretary provide world-class care for our patients and elevate our team.*

According to the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses, neuroscience nurses independently and collaboratively provide direct patient care during all phases of neurological illness. Research has documented that the specialized care neuroscience nurses provide yields better care quality and improved patient outcomes.

Neuroscience nurses directly prevent complications associated with neurological illness, and both patient and family needs are addressed throughout the course of the illness. (Source: Impact of Neuroscience Nursing on Quality of Care and Health Outcomes, American Association of Neuroscience Nurses, May 29, 2015)

In 2019, the MetroHealth Neurocritical Care Unit (NCCU) received an educational grant for neuroscience nursing education. As part of expanding the educational and training experience for neuroscience nurses at MetroHealth, an inaugural symposium showcasing neuroscience nursing will take place on May 22, 2020.

The goal is to offer this annual symposium as a forum to learn from leaders in the field of neuroscience nursing and showcase research by neuroscience nurses.

Dr. Grossman and staff accepting blankets from former NCCU patients to comfort current patients

Fellowship in Neurocritical Care

There are two formal fellowship training programs in Neurocritical Care at MetroHealth:

The Neurocritical Care – Acute Care Neurosurgery Fellowship is a one-year training program for neurosurgery trainees. Learn more

The Advanced Practice Provider Neuroscience Critical Care Fellowship is a first in the United States, one-year training program for new advanced practice graduates.

The Ohio Coverdell Stroke Program

Jonah Grossman and Theodore Bowen in the NCCU

The Ohio Coverdell Stroke Program is a data-driven quality improvement program for stroke treatment.

The program is focused on providing high quality stroke care to Ohioans by:

Providing quality improvement resources to emergency medical service providers, hospital stroke teams and other healthcare providers
Reducing the number of people who have recurrent strokes, stroke-related disabilities or death

Hospitals participating in the Ohio Coverdell Stroke Program are located across the state and provide high quality stroke care.

In 2019, Dr. Ardelt was appointed as the Consulting Stroke Physician, working closely with the Coverdell Consulting Team to maximize stroke care in Ohio.