After 16 months of work, The Medical Center of Plano opened its $66 million expansion to its Neuroscience Services Department in late August. The expansion added two floors and includes 34 intensive care unit beds and 34 beds for non-critical care patients. The expansion is in response to the growing number of incoming patients with strokes, traumatic brain injuries and brain tumors throughout the region, said Charles Gressle, Medical Center of Plano CEO.

With nearly $1 million spent per bed and 56,000 additional square feet for the new program, Gressle said the hospital is known across the region for neurosciences. In order to differentiate the expansion project, the expanded department is known as The Brain and Spine Hospital.

"We can handle everything in the brain," Gressle said. "We have the largest infrastructure and unit to handle all kinds of spinal and brain injuries and help people get back to life."

Since its opening, Gressle said that on most days both units, critical and general care, are at full capacity. While the medical center retains enough beds to accommodate ICU needs, he said The Brain and Spine Hospital will need to expand down the road with more intermediate care.

The hospital also utilizes BrainSUITE, a technology that makes neurosurgery much more precise allowing surgeons to perform brain scans while the surgery is in progress. The Medical Center of Plano is the only hospital in the region with the technology.

The hospital also has a large focus around stroke patients, but Gressle said the Medical Center of Plano is not just a place for brain, spine and stroke care. He said it is a place that can handle any patient need across the region.

The hospital offers comprehensive care to its patients and also interacts with various local hospitals to ensure regional patients have the best care.

"The more we invest in network of care, the better it is for all our patients across the region," Gressle said.