Evo Terra (Host): This is Checkup Chat with Evergreen Health. I'm Evo Terra, and with me today is Dr. Daniel Burdick, a neurologist with Evergreen Health. Today we'll be discussing Evergreen Health's neurosciences expansion in the Monroe location. Dr. Burdick, welcome.

Daniel Burdick, MD: Thank you. It's great to be here, YVO.

Evo Terra (Host): So what drove the decision on this expansion of services at the Monroe location?

Daniel Burdick, MD: I honestly would say it was kind of a classic win-win. we have our Kirkland location. It's been, present for over 20 years now, And we were seeing more and more need for patient's, patient's coming down from Monroe and, points North and east, to be seen in the Kirkland location.

we were seeing a lot of demand beyond what we had the capacity for, and, we decided, well, we didn't have room to expand in Kirkland. There was room available in Monroe. There was a need in Monroe. So we said, why don't we just fill that need and expand up into, Monroe and bring the, the neurology care to the patient rather than having patient's come down to us all the time.

so yeah, I think it really has worked out very well and we've, been able to open up a little bit more space, hire additional neurologists. And, like I said, we've got the patient's who are willing to, to come see us up in Monroe.

Evo Terra (Host): And demand is certainly a key reason for doing that. Being able to service your patient's, where they are is, obviously a great suggestion. what about the barriers? Were there any sorts of barriers that you had to overcome to begin offering neurology care in Monroe?

Daniel Burdick, MD: There were minor barriers, just the logistics you would expect in, setting up a new clinic. but the administrative staff, in Monroe at Evergreen Health Monroe has been wonderful to work with. Very excited to have neurology coming up to Monroe and, they. Took care. They worked closely with the team at Evergreen Health Kirkland.

And, uh, really there were not that many barriers. like I say, we had the clinic space and they just brought in all the, equipment that we need. It doesn't take a lot to set up a neurology clinic, to be honest, but, uh, a few specialized tools, reflex hammers And the like.

So, It really was a pretty seamless process from my end of things. And I, I know there was a lot of work on the back end, for our administrative staff and support staff. but they did a, a wonderful job and, and really it's been pretty smooth sailing.

Evo Terra (Host): Now I know the clinic's been operating for. Some time now, what's the response been from the patient's?

Daniel Burdick, MD: Yeah, we opened, uh, our first, clinic day in the beginning of November. It's now middle of December, so we're about five, six weeks into, the practice here in Monroe. the response has been great. I've seen a lot of my follow-up patient's, as I mentioned, who were coming driving all the way down to Kirkland.

and they're now seeing me here in Monroe and have been very happy to not have to drive quite so far. to come see me. It, it really does make a difference, to be honest. I think when it's easier to get care, people get more of the care that they need.

and particularly for neurology, where we're seeing a lot of patient's who may have mobility difficulties or just trouble getting out of the house for a number of reasons, they may not be able to drive for cognitive reasons. so it's just much less of a burden on the patient's and on their families.

if they can be seen closer to home.

Evo Terra (Host): Yeah, absolutely. I know my primary care physician is within walking distance, but my dentist is about 30 miles away, and I like it like that. I don't wanna go to the dentist very often.

Daniel Burdick, MD: Well, I dunno how people feel about the neurologist, but I hope they, they've enjoyed it.

Evo Terra (Host): Ah. Yeah. So the two different locations you have now, one in Kirkland, now in Monroe, are there any differences that your neurology patient's should know about?

Daniel Burdick, MD: think if we needed to have more advanced diagnostic testing or if we need to have more advanced, like surgical interventions for instance, we're still going to be sending people to Kirkland that approach. but from the standpoint of, most of what we do, I mean. Well over, three quarters, 80% of what we do is counseling around diseases, making diagnoses based on the clinical findings, managing medications.

We can do all of that here in Monroe. I would say the other important point is that, We're using the same physicians, the same providers, the same neurologists, in Kirkland and Monroe. So it's not a separate, clinic really at all. It's just a, an extension of the neurosciences practice at Evergreen Health, which I think is an Im important point.

Sometimes, there may be a sense that Clinics or centers that are farther out, more remote, may have different providers, but not the case. We're using the same providers here And in Kirkland, and really, fantastic providers at that, myself notwithstanding. But we've got two other neurologists who I think are really, excellent clinicians and, very personable, physicians.

And so, it's wonderful to have them working up here with me.

Evo Terra (Host): Right now, obviously Monroe is a more rural location as opposed to the much more urban Kirkland setting. Any challenges in delivering high standards of care.

Daniel Burdick, MD: Well, and actually that goes to the point I just making, I think, most of what we do as a neurologist is sitting down with a patient, listening to their story, doing a detailed neurological exam, And then. Coming up with a, diagnosis, And then, You know, recommending medications and counseling them about the diagnosis.

we can do that, you know, that really comes down to the quality of the, provider and how carefully they're listening and examining, the patient And the patient's story. That is really the same whether you're in Monroe, whether you're in Kirkland, et cetera. there can be some challenges to get some of the more advanced diagnostic testing or the more advanced surgical procedures, but we're managing that pretty well.

It is one system, so it's very easy to communicate with the people. When we're in Monroe, we are communicating with our team in Kirkland. we can, put the same referrals in the same system. we can see all the same lab results and all the documentation from throughout the Evergreen Health system.

So, It really is pretty seamless from that standpoint. so yeah, I think, really the, delivery of care, is 80 plus percent of what we're doing exactly the same.

Evo Terra (Host): That's great. So I'll ask a personal question. What makes you most excited about offering neurology care in both locations? I assume it's not the commute.

Daniel Burdick, MD: The commute is a little bit longer for me. That's true. to be honest, there is some personal motivation here. I grew up in a pretty rural area. in fact, really more rural than Monroe. just to put perspective on it, if, you drive an hour from Monroe, you're in one of the biggest, greatest cities in America.

If you drove an hour from where I grew up, you'd be in a town about the size of Monroe. So, it was quite rural, but I really loved the place where I grew up. I loved the people there. it's just it very meaningful to me to be able to bring really high quality medical care, neurological care, in my case, to people closer to where they live And so that they don't have to battle the traffic and drive a long way to be seen for their routine neurological conditions.

Evo Terra (Host): Also as someone who grew up in a very rural area. 27 people in my graduating class if that helps. Tiny, tiny town. I know how often the challenge can be to get healthcare, good quality healthcare there with my parents to live in areas. And so it's great that we have this now available there, in Monroe.

Dr. Burdick, thank you very much for joining me today.

Daniel Burdick, MD: Oh yeah, it was a pleasure.

Evo Terra (Host): And that wraps up this episode of Checkup Chat with Evergreen Health. Head over to our website@evergreenhealth.com for more information and get connected with one of our providers. Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review this podcast and all the other Evergreen Health Podcasts. For more health tips and updates, follow us on your social channels.

Thanks for watching.