News

As the COVID-19 epidemic is making neurological emergencies harder to treat--and potentially more dangerous for the patient--neurology providers at Duke’s three hospitals are rising to the challenge with robots, iPads, and an unprecedented level of collaboration.

The patient in Durham Regional Hospital was unresponsive to questions. The ambulance had brought him into the emergency room with meningitis, or inflammation around the brain--as well as symptoms that could have been caused by COVID-19.

Neurological conditions do not occur in a vacuum. A patient hospitalized for a heart attack may suddenly have a stroke. A patient with a metastatic tumor could suddenly start having a seizure. Our providers within the new Division of Hospital Neurology specialize in helping patients with these complicated, overlapping conditions throughout Duke’s three hospitals.

Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are essential for the function of the Duke University Health System and the Duke Department of Neurology, where they treat patients within all of our major disciplines. To help mark National NP week, this week’s spotlight interview shines on Duke Raleigh’s John Howell II, MSN AGACNP-BC, whose typical week includes patients with stroke, seizures, multiple sclerosis, and other conditions.

For stroke fellow Matthew Ehrlich, MD, MPH, every new patient presents an opportunity to analyze important details and think outside of the box. In this week’s “Fellow Spotlight” interview Ehrlich talks to us about how stroke neurology combines his favorite aspects of radiology and internal medicine, his future at Durham Regional Hospital, and his passion for amateur car racing.