New IR suite strengthens collaboration and continuity of care

Whether managing a traumatic hemorrhage, obtaining a difficult biopsy or placing a chemotherapy port, physicians across NKC Health rely on interventional radiology (IR) to help patients move quickly from diagnosis to treatment. With the opening of its new IR suite in June, NKC Health has expanded access to minimally invasive procedures while strengthening collaboration across specialties.

IR uses CT, fluoroscopy and ultrasound to guide minimally invasive procedures, allowing many patients to avoid open surgery, recover more quickly and return home sooner. The expanded suite gives the team greater flexibility to care for scheduled patients while accommodating urgent cases.

"What is most amazing to me is how much this new suite improves patient access," said Ashlyn Hull, MS Ed, RT(R)(CT), director of Radiology and Radiation Oncology. "We've moved from one IR suite to two, plus a multipurpose room and two ultrasound rooms."

The additional capacity supports a wide range of procedures, including image-guided biopsies, chemotherapy port placements, tumor ablations and interventions to control internal bleeding.

A critical partner in trauma care

Kyle Harken, DO

For Trauma Surgeon Kyle Harken, DO, NKC Health Trauma & Critical Care, IR has become an indispensable partner in treating seriously injured patients, bringing the technology and resources together in one location.

"IR gives us another avenue to care for patients with traumatic injuries," Dr. Harken said. "For patients with significant bleeding, they can perform minimally invasive procedures to help control hemorrhage."

Rather than replacing surgery, IR often complements operative care. Trauma surgeons and interventional radiologists work together throughout a patient's treatment, with IR providing endovascular techniques to control bleeding when they offer the safest or most effective option.

"If we're in the operating room with a bad abdominal injury and there's bleeding we can't control surgically, our IR colleagues can treat it intravascularly," Dr. Harken said.

The second procedure room also improves readiness for emergency cases.

"We now have a second room ready to treat trauma patients without impacting other patients," Ashlyn said. 

Supporting multidisciplinary care

Chandandeep Singh, MD

IR physicians work closely with specialists across the health system, including oncology, cardiology, gastroenterology and vascular medicine. The new suite design supports that collaboration with shared procedure space, advanced imaging technology and patient preparation and recovery areas located together.

Chandandeep Singh, MD, a medical oncologist and hematologist with NKC Health Medical Oncology & Hematology, said IR plays an essential role throughout the cancer care continuum.

He routinely partners with interventional radiologists for chemotherapy port placements, bone marrow biopsies and image-guided biopsies. IR physicians also participate in multidisciplinary tumor board discussions to help determine the best diagnostic approach for complex cases.

This close partnership and communication also strengthens continuity of care by keeping patients and providers connected within one health system.

"Most of the things patients need for their cancer care are in one place," Dr. Singh said. "Our patients appreciate the level of communication we have with each other because they see that we communicate rather than just sending referrals."

Ashlyn said the expanded suite positions NKC Health to continue growing minimally invasive services while supporting physicians across specialties.

Investing in future growth

The expanded suite reflects NKC Health's continued investment in advanced, minimally invasive care and the clinical partnerships that support it. IR Supervisor Dan Schreiber, BSN, RN, said the program has grown rapidly during the past three years, and the additional space gives the team the capacity to meet increasing demand.

"The program has grown tremendously," Dan said. "Now we have the environment to match that growth. And it takes all of us — clinicians, physicians, analysts, schedulers, environmental services, information technology team members, executive assistants and more — to deliver the safe, reliable care our patients count on."

Community support made the project possible through gifts from grateful patient donors Richard and Debra Heiniger, Jo Stueve, Judy and Bill Chastain, the 2024 Glow All Out fundraiser, the NKC Health Auxiliary and a grant from the Victor E. Speas Foundation, with Bank of America, N.A., serving as trustee.

"It is fitting that this space will stand out in the Northland, given the community effort behind it," said Courtney Johanning, chief development officer. "It's been rewarding to watch this vision take shape. We are grateful to all the donors who helped bring it to life."