Franciscan Health announced Oct. 22 that it has entered into a professional services agreement with the department of neurological surgery at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

As part of the agreement, Dr. Kevin Jackson, a full-time Northwestern Medicine neurosurgeon, is now employed at Franciscan Health Crown Point. The agreement also includes Telestroke services at four Franciscan Heath hospitals including Franciscan Health Crown Point, Franciscan Health Dyer, Franciscan Health Hammond and Franciscan Health Munster.

 “We are pleased to partner with one of the largest health care systems in the Midwest to provide the highest-quality neurological care to patients living in Northwest Indiana,” said Dr. Maciej Lesniak, Michael J. Marchese Professor of Neurosurgery and chair of the department of neurological surgery at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. “This unique affiliation will offer enhanced care to residents in areas who may have limited access to leading specialists and cutting-edge clinical trials.”

Jackson is a board-certified neurological surgeon and has cross-state licensures in Illinois and Indiana. He also has strong ties to Indiana receiving his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame and completing his residency at Indiana University School of Medicine.

Telestroke uses videoconferencing to connect stroke patients to leading vascular neurologists at Northwestern Memorial to examine the patient, immediately interpret brain scan results and make treatment recommendations in consultation with emergency department personnel at Franciscan Health Hospitals.

Northwestern Medicine health system's Telestroke program partners with more than a dozen hospitals across Illinois and Northwest Indiana.