Neurosurgery equipment moves to Phoebe Putney

ALBANY, Ga. — A neurosurgical navigation system that had been installed at the former Palmyra Medical Center has found a new home at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital.

Joe Austin, chief operating officer for Phoebe Putney Health System, said that the neurosurgeon at Palmyra — now known as Phoebe North — left some time ago, resulting in the Stryker system, designed to use infrared cameras and instruments along with tracking software to guide surgeons and their instruments through the anatomy of the brain, sitting idle.

Phoebe officials determined that, with the majority of the Albany area’s trauma cases being directed to Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, the equipment would be better suited for use at that campus, Austin said.

The equipment began making its way toward the main campus last week, Austin said. He also said that, to his knowledge, there was not currently any other equipment set to move from Phoebe North to be installed at its sister hospital.

Plans are currently in the works to turn Phoebe North, acquired by the Hospital Authority of Albany-Dougherty County in December 2011, into a women’s and children’s center.

The Stryker system was formally introduced at Palmyra in October 2010.

Since the hospital was purchased, officials at Phoebe have invested $1-$2 million in the facility, Austin said.