Firsts & Facts

BMC is the only hospital in southwest Michigan to have a comprehensive OR monitoring program for surgeries of the brain, spinal cord and carotid endarterectomies.

BMC ranks No. 1 in behavioral medicine admits in southwest Michigan.

No other hospital in southwest Michigan has a comprehensive behavioral medicine program like that at Borgess.

First Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) closure procedure in southwest Michigan, Vishal Gupta, MD, MPH, 2008

First catheter-based gene therapy study in Michigan, Michael Lauer, MD, 2004.

First and only HDL mimetic (Esperion) trial site in southwest Michigan.

First in southwest Michigan to perform an alcohol septal ablation cardiac procedure for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, Tim Fischell, MD, 2003.

First inpatient and outpatient heart failure program in southwest Michigan, Anthony King, MD.

First accredited fourth year interventional cardiology fellowship program in southwest Michigan, Tim Fischell, MD.

First Radiation Center for the treatment of in-stent restenosis, established in southwest Michigan, 2001.

First Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP) for treatment of angina in Michigan, November 2000.

First carotid artery stenting program in southwest Michigan, Tim Fischell, MD, 1997.

First open-heart program in southwest Michigan.

First stents in cardiac angioplasty in southwest Michigan.

First implant radioactive isotope stent in World, Tim Fischell, MD.

First transmyocardial revascularization [TMR].

First hospital in southwest Michigan to implant Heparin and Sirolumus coated stents for clinical trials.

First community-hospital based Cardiac Rehabilitation & Exercise Testing Center, 1975.

First nuclear pacemaker implantation in Michigan, 1972.

First computerized EKG readout and evaluation system in state, 1970.

Design and patent of BX Velocity Stent, 2000.

Cardiac radiation therapy research, Dr. Fischell, 1998.

BMC takes care of more hearts than any other hospital in southwest Michigan.

BMC ranks No. 1 in cardiology/cardiac surgery admits for women 35+ in southwest Michigan, 2005.

BMC offers more heart education programs than any other hospital in southwest Michigan.

First in southwest Michigan to offer and conduct GliaSite Therapy for malignant brain tumors - (internal radiation therapy), 2003.

First in southwest Michigan to offer minimally invasive treatment options for aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), stroke and vertebrae fractures through Neurointerventional Surgery & Diagnostic Services practice. These interventional techniques also allow chemotherapy to be delivered directly to some tumors as part of cancer treatment, 2002.

Borgess Medical Center and Borgess Research Institute - First facilities in Michigan to receive full FDA approval (i.e., non-conditional) to conduct STN-DBS for Parkinson's disease.

First deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus for patients with Parkinson's disease in southwest Michigan, October 2000.

First deep brain stimulation of the thalamus for essential tremor patients in southwest Michigan, September 1999.

Joint effort with BMC, Neurosurgery of Kalamazoo and WMCC: First Stereotactic Radiosurgery in southwest Michigan, 1998.

First Gliadel Wafer [chemotherapy for Glioblastoma Multiforme] insertion into brain tumor site in southwest Michigan, 1997.

First ME-Spectroscopy in southwest Michigan, January 1996.

First Stereotactic Frameless “Regulus” surgery in southwest Michigan was performed, 1995.

First Transcranial Cerebral Doppler in southwest Michigan, September 1994.

First Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Team in southwest Michigan formed, September 1993.

First “Easy Street” rehabilitation unit in southwest Michigan, August 1993.

First neuro rehabilitation unit in southwest Michigan, July 1992.

First MR-Angio in southwest Michigan, April 1991.

First Stereotactic Biopsy-Craniotomy in southwest Michigan was performed, 1988.

First in southwest Michigan to conduct frameless stereotactic neurosurgery.

First Sensory Evoked Potentials in southwest Michigan, 1988.

First MRI in southwest Michigan, December 1985.

First Digital Subtraction Angiography in southwest Michigan, August 1982.

First Intracranial Pressure Monitoring done in southwest Michigan, 1976.

First Ventriculostomy Intracranial Pressure Monitoring done in southwest Michigan, 1975.

First Transitional Care Unit [TCU] in southwest Michigan opened, March 1973. TCU evolved into the neuro intensive care unit.

First Percutaneous Cerebral Angiogram in southwest Michigan, Russell Mohney, MD, 1966.

First pneumoencephalogram chair to southwest Michigan, Russell Mohney, MD, 1966.

First Electromyography [EMG] in southwest Michigan, 1965. Performed by Dr. Mohney who brought his own machine to BMC.

BMC has the only neuro intensive care unit in southwest Michigan.

BMC ranks No 1. in neurosurgery admits for women 35+ in southwest Michigan, 2005.

Cavatron Ultrasonic Aspirator [CUSA]: BMC was third in the U.S. to obtain this machine, 1974.

Area leader in neuro-related drug research, i.e., stroke and Alzheimer’s.

Long-standing program – advanced neuro program dates back more than 30 years.