Position Overview

Understanding the Role

The Neurologist role at WellStar Spalding Hospital represents an opportunity to build a practice from the ground up. This position emphasizes outpatient neurology with minimal inpatient responsibilities. The schedule involves a 4.5-day work week, combining clinic hours and inpatient rounding, with no night or weekend call required. The practice targets a patient volume of 14-18 per day as the provider ramps up. The position welcomes J1 and H1B candidates and includes teaching opportunities, although they are not mandatory. Reporting directly to the Neurology leadership team, this role offers a potential pathway to a Directorship in the next five years for seasoned candidates.

WellStar has 2 comprehensive stroke centers at Kennestone and North Fulton Hospital. Our Stroke team is comprised of 7 Stroke Neurohospitalists, providing 24/7 stroke care for our system. The Stroke team rotates stroke call for all 9 of our hospitals. At this time because there is no Neurologist on staff at Spalding, most patients coming into the hospital with a Neurological issue would be transferred. WellStar Kennestone hospital, a 600+ bed Level I Trauma Center with a 100 bed ED, has a robust team where patients can be flown or driven to once they are stabilized at Spalding. This is a half hour flight or an hour and a half drive. The service at North Fulton, specifically Roswell, is a 55-minute drive. The Spalding Hospital owns the EMS group, and any patient transfers would happen through this team.

The group’s Vascular Neurologists also take call, and TNK is administered by the ER physicians on call. Should a patient present in the ED, a Neurologist at Spalding would not be expected to come into the facility. The ER physicians will handle any emergent admits for the time being, but this could change as the practice expands.

To further emphasize the importance of continuity of care in the region, any stroke patients seen at Spalding Hospital will be transferred for treatment to either Kennestone or North Fulton. Once they are stabilized, patients are returned to their community hospital for a closer-to-home recovery process.

Monday through Friday, 4.5-day work week combining clinic time and rounding on current IP Neuro patients
Current census high at the hospital of 3 patients
Minimal Inpatient component; a provider can expect to round on 2-3 patients maximum
Residency program on site at Spalding; IM and FP residents will do rounds
Teaching is not a requirement, but it can be worked into the practice
No nights or weekend call required, call handled by WellStar Neurology team
Standard patient mix, including stroke, EEG, brain injuries, etc.
Other programs in the surrounding Atlanta metro have providers seeing 14-18 patients per day, target is similar for Spalding as the provider ramps up
J1 and H1B candidates are welcome to apply
No current APPs on staff currently, but this is open to change should the Neurologist see this as a key component of practice expansion

Position Overview

Understanding the Role

Job and Work Schedule:

This is going to be a ground-up, turn-key opportunity focused on Outpatient Neurology. At most, an incoming provider can expect an 80/20 split of Outpatient to Inpatient services. There is also a substantial focus on a clinic and life balance with less than a 5 day work week standard.