Dr. Michael Horowitz, left, and Dr. Richard Spiro look over spine models recently at the PA Brain and Spine Institute in Adams Township. The doctors practice in Butler and Adams Township, and the institute is an independent practice that resulted from a partnership between Butler Health System and Highmark.

Thanks to the PA Brain and Spine Institute, Butler County residents no longer have to travel far for treatment of neurological conditions.

“Before we were up here, all the cranial surgery (and other procedures) ... were all being sent down to Pittsburgh,” said Dr. Michael Horowitz, one of two doctors at the institute who practice in the county.

The institute is an independent practice that resulted from a partnership between Butler Health System and Highmark.

It provides care for patients with complex neurosurgical needs, such as spine abnormalities, degenerative diseases, nervous system abnormalities and conditions such as stroke, cranial nerve disorders and hydrocephalus.

The institute began in March.

Horowitz and Dr. Richard Spiro practice in Butler and Adams Township. Horowitz is the former chief of neurosurgery at UPMC Presbyterian and Spiro is the former director and chief of neurological spine surgery for the department of neurosurgery at UPMC.

A third doctor, Dr. Pedro Aguilar, practices in Peters Township, Washington County.

All three doctors came from UPMC. Because they all signed noncompete clauses, they are not allowed to practice in Allegheny County for one to two years.

Once those clauses expire, Horowitz said the institute will expand into Allegheny County and will practice at West Penn Hospital.

Despite plans for expansion, Horowitz said he and Spiro have signed up to stay in Butler for seven to 10 years.

“So, we're committed to staying up here,” Horowitz said.

The institute did its first procedure at Butler Memorial Hospital on May 2. It has done more than 30 procedures since.Horowitz said he and Spiro team up to perform most of the procedures to give patients in Butler more expertise.Procedures that have taken place include cerebral angiograms, stroke thrombolysis, complex spine surgery and treatments for two aneurysms.Having to go to Pittsburgh in the past meant that it took longer to treat such issues. Horowitz noted that many neurological issues are time sensitive.He said the institute makes it easier for Butler County residents to get the care they need more quickly.Since the institute was formed, doctors have treated two strokes. Horowitz said they were able to treat them in less than four hours.“Which is the ideal time window to treat them,” Horowitz said.The institute accepts all types of insurance. The dispute between Highmark and UPMC will not affect what insurance the institute will take, Horowitz said.“We accept all insurance, even UPMC,” he said.For information, visit pabrainspine.com. The website has information about the institute as well as treatment for brain and spine conditions.It also features videos of procedures, so patients can see what will happen before they have a procedure done.

Dr. Michael Horowitz, left, and Dr. Richard Spiro look over spine models recently at the PA Brain and Spine Institute in Adams Township. The doctors practice in Butler and Adams Township, and the institute is an independent practice that resulted from a partnership between Butler Health System and Highmark.