Primary Stroke Center

Stroke is a life-threatening condition, but patients and doctors—working together—can take steps to prevent it. That’s why we focus on providing both stroke treatment and prevention services to our community.

Stroke Prevention And Treatment

St. Joseph’s is proud to have been designated a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission, a distinction recognizing facilities that follow the best practices for stroke care. That means if you’re experiencing symptoms of a stroke, you’ll be well cared for at St. Joseph’s.

When a patient shows signs of a possible stroke, a Stroke Alert is called, quickly putting the wheels in motion to assemble a specialized team, consult a neurologist and perform a CT scan to diagnose the type of stroke. Depending on the type of stroke, patients may receive a medication to quickly dissolve the clot and restore blood flow to the brain.

Watch for these signs and symptoms if you think you or someone else may be having a stroke:

  • Trouble with walking
  • Trouble with speaking and understanding
  • Paralysis or numbness of the face, arm or leg
  • Trouble with seeing in one or both eyes
  • Sudden, severe headache

If you or a loved one are experiencing symptoms of a stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Act F.A.S.T.

F.A.S.T. stands for:

FACE: Face Drooping – Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven?

ARMS: Arm Weakness – Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

SPEECH: Speech Difficulty – Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like "The sky is blue." Is the sentence repeated correctly?

TIME: Time to call 911 – If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 911 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so you'll know when the first symptoms appeared.

Our stroke treatment and prevention efforts include:

  • Assessment for and treatment of heart rhythms that may contribute to stroke
  • Administration medications designed to reduce the chance of recurrent stroke
  • Therapies aimed at preventing additional blood clots from developing in the extremities
  • Rehabilitation therapy
  • Patient and family education

Find A Doctor

If you'd like more information about our stroke program or if you'd like to Find a Doctor, please call our Stroke Patient Navigator at (209) 939-4576.