A report published last month by the State Comptroller highlighted the alarming state of stroke care in Israel, particularly the northern and southern regions. The good news is that Rambam Health Care Campus (Rambam) in Haifa, Israel, has expanded their stroke care services to help meet that need.
(L-R) Professor Shimon Maimon, Dr. Gil Zur, and Dr. Eytan Abergel. Photography: Rambam HCC
In August of 2024, the State Comptroller presented alarming data regarding the state of stroke care in Israel. The report advised that a lack of specialized medical manpower is causing enormous suffering for these patients and significantly impacting the national economy. Furthermore, the State Comptroller noted a huge disparity in stroke care between central Israel and the northern and southern regions. The highest number of neurointerventionalists is concentrated in the center of the country, resulting in a critical shortage in other regions.
However, thanks to the efforts of Rambam’s management, two senior neurointerventional surgeons recently joined Rambam’s Invasive Neuroradiology Unit, effectively increasing staffing by 200%.
Until now, Dr. Eytan Abergel, director of the hospital’s Invasive Neuroradiology Unit (Brain Catheterization), was Rambam’s only senior neurointerventionalist, making it impossible to provide continuing coverage for brain catheterizations—a critical medical service. Two senior surgeons have joined the team: Dr. Gil Zur, who joined Rambam last month, and Professor Shimon Maimon, who returned to Rambam to strengthen the team. Now, with three senior surgeons on staff, their combined schedules ensure continuous availability. In many cases, this will facilitate immediate care and the preservation of function in stroke patients.
In addition, the hospital has significantly expanded its capabilities for treating stroke patients by establishing a dedicated stroke clinic, the largest in Israel, under the leadership of Dr. Estelle Seyman, director of the Department of Neurology B – Stroke, in the Department of Neurology. The stroke clinic provides follow-up and treatment of stroke patients and the secondary prevention of future strokes.
“Rambam’s ability to provide catheterization services for stroke patients on a daily basis has been a long-standing goal. However, it depended on the availability of high-quality personnel,” says Abergel. “As a team of three interventionalists, we are ready to provide the residents of the north excellent stroke care akin to central Israel.”
