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Dr. Kristine Kay Spiewak, MD

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Specializes in: Physiatry (Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation)

University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Professional interests include: electromyography (EMG), stroke, spasticity, and more.

280 Smith Avenue N Doctors Professional Building, Suite 220
Saint Paul, MN 55102

(651) 241-8295

Dr. Kristine Kay Spiewak, MD is a physiatrist in Saint Paul, MN specializing in physiatry (physical medicine & rehabilitation). She graduated from University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Dr. Kristine Kay Spiewak, MD is affiliated with Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Allina Health and United Hospital.

Office Locations

Address:

280 Smith Avenue N Doctors Professional Building, Suite 220
Saint Paul, MN 55102

Some issues Dr. Kristine Kay Spiewak, MD can help you with:

Stroke

A stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when a blood vessel supplying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is ruptured or blocked. The brain cannot function without a steady supply of oxygen and nutrients, so when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, even for a brief moment, brain cells begin to die. When a sufficient number of brain cells die, the brain itself can no longer function, meaning that strokes are very dangerous. Strokes can result in impaired movement, speech, cognitive ability, the impairment of important physical functions, and even death.

Anyone can have a stroke, regardless of age and health. Strokes are known to happen at random. However, certain conditions and behaviors can increase one's risk of stroke over time.

Risk factors for stroke include:

Heart disease
Older age
Smoking
Diabetes
High blood pressure
High blood cholesterol and lipids

There are two main types of stroke: ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. Ischemic stroke occurs more commonly and is when a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked. Blockages are caused by blood clots and built-up plaque (deposits of fat and cholesterol), which leads to atherosclerosis, a condition where the blood vessels narrow and harden. The resultant restricted blood flow may lead to an ischemic stroke by blocking essential oxygen to the brain, causing the heart to exert more effort to pump blood.

Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in or around the brain ruptures. The burst vessel leaks blood into surrounding brain tissue, causing irreparable brain damage.

Hemorrhagic strokes are less common and may occur from head injuries, brain aneurysms, brain tumors, and bleeding disorders, amongst other conditions.

Both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes require immediate medical treatment. Medical intervention can prevent severe and life-threatening brain damage. Signs of stroke include:

-Disorientation or confusion

-Difficulty speaking

-Difficulty walking

-Impaired vision

-Weakness in the face, legs, or arms

-Severe headaches

When someone suspected of having a stroke reaches the hospital, the patient will usually receive a CT or other scan that provides an image of the brain. The scan results can reveal clotted or leaking blood in the brain. Physical exams, neurological exams, and blood tests may also be used to check for blood clotting and sugar. Treatment begins generally immediately if a stroke is detected.

Medical treatment for ischemic strokes includes a thrombolytic medicine which breaks up and disperses blood clots. This medicine can greatly improve stroke recovery and long-term health. However, the thrombolytic medicine must be administered as soon as possible to achieve these results. Other treatments for ischemic strokes are blood thinners and thrombectomy, a surgical procedure to remove a blood clot in the brain. Thrombectomy is performed by inserting a catheter (thin needle) into the artery to reach the blood clot and mechanically remove it. With the clot removed, normal blood flow to the brain resumes. Thrombectomy is typically performed at most six hours after a patient shows signs of a stroke.

Hemorrhagic strokes are treated with blood-saving medication and surgery. For a hemorrhagic stroke caused by the rupture of an aneurysm (blood vessel bulges), surgery to stem the bleeding aneurysm and vessel may be used. One surgical technique is stent-assisted coiling, which adds a stent (small wire-meshed tube) into the blood vessel to block the leaking opening of the aneurysm. A non-surgical procedure is endovascular coiling, where a catheter (thin, hollow needle) places a platinum wire coil at the spot of the aneurysm. The coil blocks bleeding and prevents the aneurysm from continuing to leak blood. These procedures are usually combined with blood-thickening medications. Blood transfusions may be administered if substantial blood loss has occurred.

Since stroke patients may have lost some essential functions while the blood flow to their brains was obstructed, both ischemic stroke and hemorrhage stroke patients may receive post-stroke rehabilitation to rebuild their physical and mental abilities. Some restorative treatments include occupational, physical, and speech therapy. Patients may also receive care from neurologists, who can assist patients in recovering certain brain functions and cognitive abilities, and rehabilitation psychologists, who may help patients with their emotional, behavioral, and cognitive recovery. Some stroke patients require lengthy rehabilitation and may never fully regain function, while others may recover more quickly. While the fastest recovery improvements are usually seen in the first three or four months, stroke rehabilitation can last for years.

If someone begins to show signs of stroke, contact emergency services and call 9-1-1 immediately since blood flow must be restored as soon as possible to help avoid significant brain damage. If an ambulance takes the person to the hospital, paramedics can initiate stroke treatment as soon as the patient enters the ambulance, allowing for more prompt medical intervention and care.

doctor visit	60
hospital care	488
injections	37
inpatient care	488
minimally invasive procedures	37

**Gender**
Male	107
Female	95

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	181
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	55
From 75 to 84	46
85 and over	34
Less than 65	67

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	64
Stroke	53
Ischemic Heart Disease	42
Depression	50
Chronic Kidney Disease	39
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	21
Heart Failure	27
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	14
Diabetes	36
Dementia	13
Cancer	13

doctor visit	43
hospital care	417
inpatient care	417

**Gender**
Male	109
Female	89

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	175
Black	12
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	53
From 75 to 84	47
85 and over	25
Less than 65	73

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	63
Stroke	56
Ischemic Heart Disease	39
Depression	40
Chronic Kidney Disease	36
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	20
Heart Failure	28
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	13
Diabetes	32
Dementia	12
Cancer	10

doctor visit	35
hospital care	267
inpatient care	267

**Gender**
Male	174
Female	166

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	288
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	88
From 75 to 84	82
85 and over	54
Less than 65	116

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	59
Stroke	55
Ischemic Heart Disease	42
Depression	39
Chronic Kidney Disease	44
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	22
Heart Failure	28
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	17
Diabetes	32
Dementia	18
Cancer	10

hospital care	287
inpatient care	287

**Gender**
Male	94
Female	61

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	123
Black	12
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	37
From 75 to 84	30
85 and over	33
Less than 65	55

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	65
Stroke	57
Ischemic Heart Disease	43
Depression	52
Chronic Kidney Disease	46
Asthma	17
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	26
Heart Failure	34
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	19
Diabetes	32
Dementia	33
Cancer	11

doctor visit	11
hospital care	267
inpatient care	267

**Gender**
Male	72
Female	73

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	124
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	42
From 75 to 84	31
85 and over	29
Less than 65	43

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	57
Stroke	52
Ischemic Heart Disease	52
Depression	50
Chronic Kidney Disease	47
Asthma	10
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	21
Heart Failure	33
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	17
Diabetes	39
Dementia	36
Cancer	12

doctor visit	16
hospital care	196
inpatient care	196

**Gender**
Male	79
Female	60

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	116
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	47
From 75 to 84	31
85 and over	18
Less than 65	43

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	68
Stroke	52
Ischemic Heart Disease	37
Depression	55
Chronic Kidney Disease	45
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	20
Heart Failure	33
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	12
Diabetes	36
Dementia	29
Cancer	10

doctor visit	32
hospital care	223
inpatient care	223

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	131
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	51
From 75 to 84	32
85 and over	27
Less than 65	40

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	67
Stroke	57
Ischemic Heart Disease	49
Depression	56
Chronic Kidney Disease	51
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	25
Heart Failure	43
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	19
Diabetes	35
Dementia	28
Cancer	14

hospital care	288
inpatient care	288

**Gender**
Male	75
Female	68

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	127
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	47
From 75 to 84	38
85 and over	24
Less than 65	34

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	71
Stroke	55
Ischemic Heart Disease	43
Depression	56
Chronic Kidney Disease	58
Asthma	15
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	27
Heart Failure	34
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	21
Diabetes	41
Dementia	38
Cancer	15

hospital care	319
inpatient care	319

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Kristine Kay Spiewak, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Kristine Kay Spiewak, MD treated as a physiatrist in Saint Paul, MN were hospital care, inpatient care, minimally invasive procedures and injections.

doctor visit	33
hospital care	305
injections	37
inpatient care	305
minimally invasive procedures	37

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Kristine Kay Spiewak, MD.

**Gender**
Male	78
Female	68

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	2
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	126
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	0
Other	0

**Age**
85 and over	24
75 to 84	33
Less than 65	47
65 to 74	42

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Kristine Kay Spiewak, MD From 2013 - 2021

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Kristine Kay Spiewak, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, stroke and depression.

Hypertension	60
High Cholesterol	51
Stroke	43
Ischemic Heart Disease	34
Depression	39
Chronic Kidney Disease	36
Asthma	9
Osteoporosis	7
Heart Failure	26
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	13
Diabetes	28
Atrial Fibrillation	18
Dementia	20
Cancer	9

Education & Training

Dr. Kristine Kay Spiewak, MD graduated from University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. She completed residency at University of Minnesota Affiliated Hospitals. She is certified by the Board Certification: Physical medicine and rehabilitation and has a state license in Minnesota.

Medical School: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Residency: University of Minnesota Affiliated Hospitals

Board Certification: Board Certification: Physical medicine and rehabilitation

Licensed In: Minnesota

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Kristine Kay Spiewak, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Abbott Northwestern Hospital

Allina Health

United Hospital

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Kristine Kay Spiewak, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Medtronic USA, Inc.	$302 SYNCHROMED $117	LIORESAL $102	Drug Infusion Systems - Neuro $83
DePuy Orthopaedics Inc.	$80 Trauma $80

**Types of Payments**
Food and Beverage	$362
Travel and Lodging	$20

Biography

Dr. Kristine Spiewak's medical specialty is physiatry (physical medicine & rehabilitation). Her areas of clinical interest consist of multiple sclerosis (MS), spasticity, and stroke. Dr. Spiewak is affiliated with United Hospital and Abbott Northwestern Hospital. She attended the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and then went on to complete her residency at a hospital affiliated with the University of Minnesota.