From gap to growth: Launching neurology services in rural Illinois

Access to specialty care remains one of the most pressing challenges facing rural hospitals. For many communities, the absence of local neurology services means patients must travel for hours for neurological care or go without it entirely.

At Horizon Health in Paris, Illinois, leadership recognized a significant unmet need for neurology services. Like many rural facilities, Horizon serves a large population of older adults—a demographic facing elevated rates of stroke, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and other neurological conditions. Without a neurologist on staff, patients were often referred to larger regional centers, creating barriers related to transportation, cost, and continuity of care.

Partnering with Weatherby Healthcare

Recruiting a staff neurologist to a rural community can take years. Rather than delay care, Horizon partnered with CHG Healthcare’s Weatherby Healthcare division to implement a locum tenens strategy designed to stand up neurology services quickly and responsibly.

Horizon leadership approached the model thoughtfully, evaluating both financial feasibility and community demand. Weatherby worked closely with Horizon’s physician practice leadership to outline both the clinical and financial case for neurology, demonstrating how specialty services could meet a critical community need while strengthening the hospital’s long-term sustainability.

Once a plan was finalized, Weatherby placed a locum neurologist, Dr. Alireza Shirazian, on-site to begin seeing patients and clear a growing backlog.

The impact was immediate. Patients who previously traveled long distances, sometimes one to three hours each way, were able to receive care closer to home. For geriatric patients and those with memory disorders, in-person access proved particularly meaningful, as telehealth alone can present limitations for certain neurological conditions.

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Dr. Shirazian not only provided direct care but also helped Horizon operationalize its neurology offering, establishing workflows and building referral pathways within the organization.

“Horizon Health had success with Weatherby Healthcare in providing locum coverage for neurology,” said Lisa Cook, director of physician and provider relations at Horizon Health.

“We had an unexpected need arise with neurology services that resulted in a backlog of patients. We partnered with Weatherby to find an excellent locum physician. Dr. Shirazian did an amazing job.”

Expanding Horizon Health's capabilities

As volume increased and awareness spread throughout the community, Horizon expanded its teleneurology capabilities, building on the strong foundation created through on-site coverage. Today, the organization is exploring the addition of a permanent neurologist to support continued demand.

The success of the neurology program also reshaped leadership’s perspective on using locum tenens as a strategic resource. What began as a targeted solution evolved into a broader partnership. Horizon has since engaged Weatherby to place a locum urologist to establish urology services, applying the same phased approach to address another specialty gap.

For rural health systems, the lesson is clear: Locum tenens is no longer a stopgap, but a catalyst for long-term expansion. By aligning clinical need with financial strategy and operational planning, Horizon Health demonstrated how adaptable staffing models can strengthen both patient access and organizational resilience.

Weatherby Healthcare can help you solve your healthcare organization’s staffing challenges. Give us a call at 954.343.3050 to learn more.