Inside the Brain

There's no question that brain surgery is complicated and scary. But Tampa General Hospital recently spent nearly $10 million and eight months to make it a little easier and effective.

In April, the Tampa hospital completed a project to install a powerful intraoperative MRI (iMRI) that allows neurosurgeons to take pictures of the brain before, during and after surgery. Neurosurgeon Dr. Harry van Loveren says he spent more than six years persuading the hospital to make the move. He says he needed to learn how to make a business case to make his argument.

Tampa General is a nonprofit hospital with 1,018 beds and 6,600 employees. Its operating company, Florida Health Sciences Center, reported $265.4 million in operating revenue in the quarter ended March 31. U.S. News & World Report ranks Tampa General as the No. 2 hospital in Florida, with a “High Performing,” but unranked designation for neurology and neurosurgery.