St. Luke’s expands complex neurologic care in Magic Valley with growing team

St. Luke’s is expanding complex neurologic care in the Magic Valley with the addition of two neurohospitalists and growth of the electroencephalography (EEG) team in Twin Falls. The addition of these health care specialists allows more local patients to receive quality neurological care close to home instead of being transferred to hospitals outside the region. Neurological care most often includes diagnosing and treating conditions of the brain, spinal cord and nerves.

“I’m thrilled for the arrival of Dr. Funk and Dr. Ching to the Magic Valley,” said Dr. Daniel Abenroth, clinical director of inpatient neurology services for St. Luke’s Health System. “Their arrival is transformative for patients with neurologic problems in the greater Magic Valley region that need hospitalization. Though St. Luke's Magic Valley Medical Center has long managed a spectrum of neurologic problems, including stroke patients, Drs. Funk and Ching bring neurologic expertise that will elevate the care of these patients to levels not previously available.”

Jason Ching, MD, is a board-certified neurologist who provides care for a breadth of neurological diseases for hospitalized patients. His clinical interests include the management of ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes, seizure/epilepsy, autoimmune neurologic disorders, and neuromuscular conditions. Dr. Ching attended medical school at George Washington University and completed his residency training at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Afterward, he completed his fellowship training in clinical neurophysiology at University of Texas Southwestern, with an interest in electrodiagnostic procedures such as EEG and EMG. 

Spencer Funk, DO, is a neurologist with training in reading EEGs, performing electromyography and nerve conduction studies (EMG/NCS), as well as intraoperative monitoring. Dr. Funk attended medical school at Midwestern University and completed his residency training and fellowship at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Prior to his medical education, Dr. Funk earned his bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University, graduating with cum laude honors. Board-certified in neurology, he is also a member of a neurohospitalist group that meets regularly to discuss cases to help better serve our community. 

“Our new neurohospitalists allow us to keep many patients needing complex neurologic care here in Twin Falls, avoiding the additional burdens of travel for these local patients and their families,” said Stephanie Shawver, stroke program manager for St. Luke’s Magic Valley. “Research demonstrates that patients have better long-term outcomes when they are able to receive care closer to home and family."

St. Luke’s Magic Valley has also added three EEG technologists to the staff, enabling the department to offer continuous or long-term monitoring of EEGs that are critical for the care of complex seizure patients.

“Continuous EEG gives us a longer, better picture of the patient’s condition,” explained Seger Ducharme, manager of EEG services at St. Luke’s Magic Valley. “The introduction of the neurohospitalist service is really what has allowed the facilitation of the growth of EEG here in Twin Falls. They are here in the hospital, physically touching the patients, determining whether they need EEG services or not, placing that order, and then reading the EEG.”

Though transfer to Boise may still be necessary for patients that require neurosurgical care, the majority of patients with neurologic issues will now be able to receive their care locally at St. Luke’s Magic Valley.