Stroke

Our hospital is nationally recognized for our advanced stroke services. We have been recognized by The Joint Commission as a Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center, and we've been awarded the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines — Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award.

Multidisciplinary stroke treatment team

When you choose us for your emergency and continued stroke care, you gain access to a multidisciplinary team of professionals who are dedicated to you and your recovery. Our stroke care team includes:

• Diagnostic and interventional radiologists
• Emergency medical services (EMS) providers
• Emergency physicians
• Intensivists and hospitalists
• Neurointerventionalists
• Neurologists
• Neuroradiologists
• Neurosurgeons
• Neurology-trained nurses and staff

Our staff is skilled at immediately determining the best treatment plan through rapid diagnosis and treatment. Our emergency room (ER) is open 24/7, so we are always prepared to provide top-level care for incoming stroke patients.

Expedited computerized tomography (CT) scans and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), combined with a neurological consultation, are used to make an accurate diagnosis and help determine the best course of treatment.

Hemorrhagic stroke treatment

Our specialists are experienced in several methods to treat hemorrhagic strokes, including:

• Coiling and clipping of aneurysms: involves cutting off blood flow an aneurysm (coiling) or placing a tiny tip across the aneurysm to prevent bleeding (clipping)
• Ventricular drainage: a procedure that relieves pressure caused by fluids in the brain

Ischemic stroke treatment

We also provide specialized treatments for ischemic strokes, including:

• Cerebral stenting: the placement of stents in the arteries of the brain to maintain proper blood flow
• Intra-arterial tPA: an endovascular catheterization procedure to disperse a blood clot using locally injected tPA
• Mechanical thrombectomy: a treatment method for removing large blood clots through the use of catheterization and stent placement to restore blood flow
• Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) administration: intravenous administration of tPA, a blood-thinning, clot-busting drug that restores blood flow to the brain. Our 2022 door to median time for alteplase was 27 minutes. 

After initial treatment, patients continue receiving specialized stroke care in our Neuro Intensive Care Unit (Neuro ICU). Nurses in this unit have expertise in neurological assessments and provide comprehensive intensive care and education to stroke patients and their families.

We offer a specialized stroke rehabilitation program as part of our physical therapy and rehab services so patients can receive professional, high quality help to regain their independence and quality of life. Our program incorporates aspects of physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and psychological assessment.

Physical therapy (PT)

For most patients, physical therapy (PT) is the cornerstone of the rehabilitation process. A physical therapist uses exercises and physical manipulation of the patient's body with the intent of restoring movement, balance and coordination. The aim of PT is to have the patient relearn simple motor activities, such as walking, sitting, standing, lying down and the process of switching from one type of movement to another.

Occupational therapy (OT)

Another type of therapy involving relearning daily activities is occupational therapy (OT). OT also involves exercise and training to help the patient relearn everyday activities, such as eating, drinking and swallowing, dressing, bathing, cooking, reading, writing and toileting. The goal of OT is to help the patient become independent or semi-independent.

Speech therapy

Speech and language problems arise when brain damage occurs in the language centers of the brain. Due to the brain's ability to learn and change (called brain plasticity), other areas can adapt to take over some of the lost functions. Speech therapy helps patients relearn language and speaking skills or learn other forms of communication.

Many stroke patients need mental health and wellness support following a stroke. Psychological problems, such as depression, anxiety, frustration and anger, are common post-stroke symptoms. Talk therapy, along with appropriate medication, can help alleviate some of the mental and emotional problems that result from stroke. Sometimes it is also beneficial for family members of the stroke patient to seek psychological help as well.

A stroke is caused by interrupted blood flow to part of the brain. When blood flow is stopped, that part of the brain can’t receive oxygen and other nutrients. This causes brain cells to die and can result in permanent damage, even death.

There are different types of strokes, including:

• Hemorrhagic stroke: when a blood vessel ruptures and blood leaks into the brain
• Ischemic stroke: when a blood clot blocks blood flow to part of the brain
• Transient ischemic attack (TIA) or "mini stroke": when there is temporary interruption of blood flow to part of the brain

It's important to be able to recognize signs of a stroke so you can act quickly when they occur. Common stroke symptoms include sudden:

• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Loss of balance or coordination
• Numbness, weakness or paralysis of the face, arm or leg (especially on one side of the body)
• Severe headache with no known cause (may be accompanied by pain in the face or stiffness in the neck)
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes (such as blurred, blackened or double vision)
• Trouble speaking
• Trouble walking

The symptoms of a TIA are the same as those of a stroke, but they usually last only a few minutes. If you think you are experiencing a stroke, don't drive. Call 911.

There are certain factors and conditions that may put you at risk for stroke. However, some of those conditions can often be treated. Some of the major risk factors for stroke include:

• Being 55 years old and older
• Having a family history of stroke
• Having atrial fibrillation (AFib)
• Having diabetes
• Having heart disease
• Having high blood pressure
• Having high cholesterol
• Having poor circulation