When a stroke happens

NMC’s ER is prepared

Each year an estimated 795,000 people experience a new or recurrent stroke—the nation’s third leading cause of death. Stroke is a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States, with about 4.7 million stroke survivors alive today.


Learn more about the Stroke Center at Northwest Medical Center.

The science behind stroke

Stroke, also called a “brain attack,” occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted. Disruption in blood flow is caused when either a blood clot blocks one of the vital blood vessels in the brain (ischemic stroke) or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, spilling blood into surrounding tissues (hemorrhagic stroke). When brain cells die during a stroke, abilities controlled by that area of the brain are lost. These abilities include speech, movement and memory. How a stroke patient is affected depends on where the stroke occurs in the brain and how much the brain is damaged.


Take our stroke quiz and test your knowledge!


 

Quality stroke care

Northwest Medical Center (NMC) has earned national distinction as a Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission. The hospital received the Gold Seal of Approval after successfully passing a vigorous on-site evaluation and demonstrating compliance with nationally developed standards for stroke care.

“In stroke care, time is brain,” says Jean E. Range, M.S., R.N., CPHQ, executive director, Disease-Specific Care Certification, The Joint Commission. “By achieving certification as a Primary Stroke Center, NMC has proven it has the ability to provide effective, timely care to stroke victims and can significantly improve outcomes for stroke patients.”

In preparation for certification, NMC instituted a “Brain Attack Team,” which includes clinical staff from several areas. The team responds immediately to any patient exhibiting stroke symptoms. In many cases, this rapid response means a better outcome for our patients.