Ascension Florida’s capital investments are equipping skilled physicians with the right technology that enhances their capabilities, improving ministries’ ability to deliver exceptional care for medically complex patients.
Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola recently became one of only three hospitals in Florida to receive the latest Gamma Knife, an upgraded system that will increase access to surgical and non-invasive options for malignant and benign brain tumors.
Dr. Maria Toledo, who is the only dual vascular and endovascular neurosurgeon in the Florida region, said Gamma Knife ensures patients receive the highest quality care.
“When it comes to brain surgery, nothing is more important than precision and safety,” Dr. Toledo said. “This technology allows us to provide academic-level care in a community setting.”
A multidisciplinary team works together to plan and deliver this specialized radiation treatment, including a radiation oncologist, medical physicist and neurosurgeon. Ascension Sacred Heart has offered the Gamma Knife program for nearly a decade, serving 100 patients per year.
The new system offers better targeting accuracy, delivering highly precise beams of radiation to target and destroy brain tumors and other brain lesions without harming surrounding brain tissue.
Dr. Veronica Carden, a radiation oncologist at Ascension Sacred Heart Cancer Center, said the new technology allows her to pinpoint radiation within a sub-millimeter, roughly less than the width of a credit card. The treatment is painless and performed on an outpatient basis, with patients often recovering with just 24 hours of downtime.
“This high-level technology provides better outcomes for patients in our community,” she said. “We are incredibly grateful to provide this type of treatment that can make a huge impact in their lives.”
