Urology Partnership Brings New Non-Invasive Kidney Stone Treatment, New Providers
Hillsdale Hospital is the first in Michigan to use a thulium laser, a new form of laser lithotripsy, to treat kidney, uretal and bladder stones, making it the only location in the state and one of only six locations in the country where the innovative procedure is currently offered. In addition to bringing new technology and treatment options to the community, the hospital’s partnership with Dr. Eric Stockall and Capital Urological Associates has brought new urology providers to Hillsdale.
“We pride ourselves on providing high-quality care to our patients and community,” Rachel Lott, director of marketing and development, said. “To be the first in Michigan and one of the first in the nation to have this technology available in our hospital has been exciting for us, but even more so for our patients who have received this care.”
Many patients travel from outside the county to Hillsdale Hospital for their urology procedures, including laser lithotripsy, which is a non-invasive form of kidney stone treatment. The thulium laser offers a lower intraoperative bleeding risk than traditional laser lithotripsy, and results in shorter hospital stays and less time with a catheter post-procedure.
“Laser lithotripsy is a procedure to break apart kidney stones in the urinary tract,” Dr. James Howard said. “It is done with a scope that can be passed into the tubes of the urinary tract, so incisions are not needed.”
Hillsdale Hospital brought urology services to the community in August 2019 through its partnership with Capital Urological Associates, at which time Stockall and Dr. Daniel Groves began seeing patients locally and performing outpatient surgical procedures at Hillsdale Hospital. Since that time, the demand for urology services has steadily increased. The community has now welcomed two new urology providers who are accepting new patients: Howard and nurse practitioner Cynthia Stuard. (Howard replaced Groves who served a one-year engagement to launch urology care in Hillsdale.) An additional provider, Dr. Colton Prudnick, assists Stockall and Howard with surgical procedures as needed.
“Our goal is to continue expanding local access to care—including specialty care like urology—and our partnership with Dr. Stockall and his team has allowed us to do that with great success,” Lott said. “To start with one provider and expand to three within a year tells us just how important this care is to patients in our community.”
Patients can now receive urology care in Hillsdale with Stockall, Howard or Stuard. Common conditions include kidney stones, urinary incontinence, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, prostate gland enlargement (known as benign prostatic hyperplasia) and more. To schedule an appointment, patients can call (517) 964-0265.
