The Primary Stroke Center at St. David’s Medical Center is one of the first in Central Texas to earn the prestigious Primary Stroke Center Certification from the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). The center consists of an organized multidisciplinary stroke team of physicians, nurses, social workers, dieticians, therapists, case managers, pharmacists and rehabilitation specialists. This highly-coordinated, quality care is designed to meet the specialized needs of patients suffering from stroke.

The stroke team collaborates with Emergency Medical Services, regional emergency rooms and the community to ensure prompt identification of symptoms and implementation of treatment interventions with the goal of reducing the long-term impact of stroke. For a patient suffering the signs and symptoms of a stroke, a “Stroke One Call” approach quickly gets the patient to St. David’s Medical Center to undergo treatments such as “clot busting” drugs (rtPA) and/or interventions by specially trained physicians which ultimately can “save” brain tissue.  

Patients Have Access to Multiple Services

• Medical therapies for stroke treatment/stroke prevention  ( i.e. Intravenous rtPA, anti platelet drugs)
• Swift triage, diagnosis and treatment within the Emergency Department
• Advanced neurosurgical interventions  
• Interventional neuro-radiology procedures
• Rehabilitation services such as inpatient/outpatient physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy
• Support services such as pastoral care, social services, and nutrition counseling
• Community outreach and education, including stroke awareness programs, health risk appraisals, stroke screenings and access to the only Stroke Support Group in Central Texas which meets the 2nd Monday of each month

Critical Components of the Stroke Program

• A designated stroke coordinator and stroke team with expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of stroke
• A dedicated Stroke Unit with staff trained specifically in stroke care
• Advanced technology for identification and treatment of stroke
• Vascular Neurology Board Certified Stroke Medical Director
• Process improvement and outcome measurement
• Early identification of rehabilitation needs and a continuum of care with inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation available next door at St. David’s Rehabilitation Hospital

Neurovascular - Stroke

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