Pantai Hospital KL Formed A Unified Neuro-Spine Team. Here’s Why

A stroke can destroy an estimated 1.9 million neurons every minute it goes untreated. This fact underpins how Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur (PHKL) has built its Multidisciplinary Neuro-Spine Service—a team of neurosurgeons, neurologists, neuroradiologists, spine surgeons, rehabilitation physicians, intensivists and allied health professionals who work as one unit rather than a chain of referrals. 

“Technology alone does not create excellence,” said Ho Wan Mi, PHKL’s Chief Operating Officer, at the hospital’s recent Neuroscience Excellence Showcase. “It reminds me of a Ferrari. You can have the most advanced machine, but what truly matters is the person behind the wheel.” Hospitals can invest in equipment and facilities, she said, but “the right expertise, the right decision, and the right team can make all the difference.” 

This structured collaborative approach is most visible in emergencies when “time is brain”. Consultant neurologist Dr Rishikesan Kuppusamy described a system built for continuous, round-the-clock decision-making, where scans are sent directly to consultants’ phones, and communication can move from triage to a medical or surgical decision within minutes. It was a significant infrastructure investment, he noted, but now seamless after years of working together. 

According to the team, PHKL’s door-to-CT time is within 30 minutes. Consultant Emergency Physician Dr Jeewadas Baladas, who led the A&E tour, highlighted PHKL’s recognition through the ESO/WSO Angels Awards. The hospital received Platinum recognition again this year, reflecting its continued focus on timely, evidence-based acute stroke care.

That same team approach shapes treatment decisions. For a blocked vessel causing an acute ischaemic stroke, Consultant Interventional Neuroradiologist Dr Arvin Rajadurai consults with the wider team to determine whether mechanical thrombectomy can remove the clot without invasive surgery. The procedure uses a catheter threaded through an artery to retrieve the clot directly, with Dr Arvin noting that patients have, on occasion, been able to lift a previously weakened hand while still on the procedure table. 

For more complex cases, the multidisciplinary model brings together different expertise to cover all bases. Consultant neurosurgeon Dr Kevin Sek, who handled around 500 cases last year, stresses the value of experience and volume in managing complex neurological cases, where familiarity can inform faster, more confident decisions. He emphasised that prompt intervention in emergency neurosurgery is critical to preventing secondary brain damage, noting that in urgent emergency cases, surgery can be performed within an hour of identifying a bleed on a scan.

Consultant spine surgeon Dr Ng Bing Wui sees the value of that wider neuro-spine ecosystem in the range of treatment options it can offer spinal patients, where recovery can be particularly demanding. Depending on the condition and how it affects a patient’s lifestyle, that may mean choosing a minimally invasive approach, such as smaller incisions or endoscopy, to reduce tissue damage and recovery time.

Technology and tools matter. However, PHKL argues, the team behind it matters more, especially when time is of the essence.