Revolutionizing Neurosurgery with BrainCheck
The first neurosurgical group in the state of Alabama, Haynes Neurosurgical Group is a leading specialty practice with a legacy spanning 70 years. Based in Birmingham, clinicians at the facility offer surgical care for a wide range of neurological conditions. The private practice prides itself on remaining on the cutting-edge of technology to advance the highest quality patient care.
When seasoned neurosurgeon Phillip Cezayirli, MD, joined Haynes Neurosurgical Group in 2023, he introduced BrainCheck to the practice. BrainCheck’s standard battery, Assess™, is a FDA Class II medical device that easily and objectively detects signs of cognitive impairment. BrainCheck Plan™ helps clinicians build, document, and deliver comprehensive care plans for patients with cognitive decline, post-diagnosis.
BrainCheck’s technology initially caught Dr. Cezayirli’s attention during his fellowship at MD Anderson, where researchers were using it to evaluate brain tumor patients remotely at the height of the pandemic.
“BrainCheck ended up being very convenient for patients, as they were not able to come into the clinic due to COVID-19 precautions at the time. I also liked the idea of performing neurocognitive testing on brain tumor patients to track their cognition and progress before and after treatment,” said Dr. Cezayirli. “That’s what really matters to patients.”
“We looked at other digital cognitive assessments but found BrainCheck to be the most clinically-proven, cost-effective, and convenient,” he added.
Saving Time and Streamlining Care
Following adoption, BrainCheck has offered significant time-savings benefits for both Dr. Cezayirli and his patients, compared to paper-based tests.
“Traditionally, neurocognitive testing for brain tumor patients is a two-day process, which can be particularly challenging for patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation,” he said. “BrainCheck’s Assess streamlines this process, offering a digital and efficient solution that requires only about 15 minutes. I also appreciate that BrainCheck offers the ability to add additional traditional screeners electronically, providing flexibility in tailoring assessments to individual patient needs.”
Dr. Cezayirli now uses BrainCheck on every patient as standard practice, both before and after surgery.
“Every new patient gets a cognitive assessment with BrainCheck when they fill out their new patient forms. We evaluate their results and determine if any follow up is necessary,” he said.
“I also ask my patients to take a cognitive assessment post-surgery and in follow-up appointments to continue to track their progress,” he added. “Many of our patients end up with higher BrainCheck scores after their treatment, which is a positive sign that treatment is working. Patients say BrainCheck is easy to use, and they even seem to have fun with it, as some of them have asked to take the test again in an attempt to beat their own score. Our staff always asks to try it too.”
Dr. Cezayirli has also found BrainCheck’s care planning tool, Plan, to be beneficial for some of his patients.
“BrainCheck Plan has been particularly beneficial for patients with higher-grade tumors, for whom the expectation is unfortunately that they are going to progress,” he said.
“In the state of Alabama, it might take a year for a patient to get an appointment with a specialist, But BrainCheck helps to make neurocognitive testing and care more accessible for patients, while saving precious time.”
