Horizon Health Urology Receives Excellence Award

A global medical device company has awarded its highest honor to the Horizon Health Urology Department for its exceptional care of patients with bladder and bowel dysfunction.

The Axonics company recently presented its Center of Excellence award to Dr. Michael Shanks, who leads the Horizon Health Urology Department. Only two percent of physicians using Axonics technology receive the award.

“I couldn’t do it without my entire team,” Dr. Shanks said. “I’m extremely pleased to be able to offer this advanced treatment option to our communities. For many patients, Axonics is a long-term solution for overactive bladder, fecal incontinence, and urinary retention.”

Horizon Health is the only Axonics Center of Excellence in central Illinois. To receive the recognition, a physician must provide Axonics treatment to at least 100 patients (minimum 25 per year) with a patient dissatisfaction rate of less than 20 percent.

Axonics Therapy uses a miniature implant under the skin to gently stimulate the sacral nerve, restoring normal communication between the brain and bladder. The device acts as a pacemaker for the bladder and has been clinically proven to provide rapid and long-lasting relief of symptoms associated with bladder and bowel dysfunction.

In a clinical study, 129 patients with urgency incontinence were treated with Axonics Therapy. At two years, 93 percent of patients had successful therapy and 94 percent of patients were satisfied with their therapy.

Dr. Shanks began treating qualifying patients with Axonics in 2019 at his former practice. He joined Horizon Health as a full-time urologist in late 2023. He received the Axonics Center of Excellence award at a recent celebration at Horizon Health.

The Axonics Center of Excellence program recognizes highly trained and experienced physicians and clinical practices that are committed to patient education and providing exemplary care to achieve optimal clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction.

For more information about urology services at Horizon Health, call 217-466-4661 or visit MyHorizonHealth.org/Urology.