National Stroke Association's Virtual Stroke Fair

Primary Stroke Center

Taking Action, Saving Lives

Deaconess Hospital has joined the ranks of an elite group of hospital, those designated as Primary Stroke Centers.

Quick response is crucial during 'Brain Attack'

"Two million brain cells die every minute during stroke, increasing risk of permanent brain damage, disability or death. Recognizing symptoms and acting FAST to get medical attention can save a life and limit disabilities " - National Stroke Association

Stroke, sometimes called a "brain attack," is a leading cause of death and the leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States, though studies have shown few Americans know its signs and symptoms. Strokes occur when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and vital nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or ruptures.  When this occurs, part of the brain is deprived of blood and oxygen, destroying millions of valuable nerve cells within minutes.

Every 40 seconds someone in the United States has a stroke and roughly every four minutes a person dies from stroke. Deaconess is ready to change those odds.

The primary stroke symptoms include:

• Sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the face or facial drooping
• Sudden numbness or weakness in an arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination 

• Sudden severe headache with no known cause

Deaconess Primary Stroke Center offers:

• An Acute Stroke Team that begins evaluation within 15 minutes of any patient exhibiting stroke symptoms. The team includes a specialty physician.
• Written-Care Protocols to streamline and accelerate diagnosis and treatment of stroke, including rapid administration of tPA when indicated. 
• Strong Communication with Emergency Medical Services to ensure that Deaconess medical personnel are informed when a stroke patient is in-route to Deaconess.
• A Highly-Trained Emergency Department that is experienced in diagnosing and treating strokes, and maintains communication with EMS and the Stroke Team.
• A Specialized Neuroscience Unit that includes four levels of care for the changing needs of stroke patients.
• Technologically advanced Neuro-Surgical Services available any time of day.
• Neuro-Imaging Services to rapidly determine if a patient has a burst blood vessel or clot-blocking blood flow to the brain.  Imaging studies are performed within 25 minutes of a physician’s order, and physicians evaluate images within 20 minutes of completion.
• Laboratory Services available 24 hours a day.
• Quality-Improvement Protocols including a registry for tracking patient treatments, timelines of treatments, and measures of patient outcomes.
• Continuing Education for members of the Emergency Department and Stroke Team.
• Community Education to teach individuals how to prevent a stroke and to recognize its signs and symptoms.

Deaconess Neuro Services is dedicated to improving stroke care in our community. Use our Stroke Treatment Checklist to determine if your hospital provides the same level of care. 

Select content on this site is provided by permission of National Stroke Association. Please visit www.stroke.org for stroke education resources. © 2011 National Stroke Association.