Click Here for the article in the New York Daily News - August 28, 2005

The St. Barnabas Hospital Stroke Center - The first New York State Department of Health Certified Stroke Center in the Bronx!

Background

Stroke is the third leading cause of death, and a major cause of disability, affecting three quarters of a million people in the U.S.A. each year. Strokes occur when an artery supplying part of the brain becomes blocked, and that part of the brain dies. Strokes may also occur if a blood vessel ruptures, and there in hemorrhage into the brain. In both cases there is a sudden onset of weakness on one side of the body, difficulty speaking, seeing or walking, or a combination of these symptoms. There may also be loss of consciousness or headache. Common causes of stroke are hypertension and diabetes.

Until recently there has been no treatment for an acute stroke, only secondary prevention and rehabilitation. A new "clot busting" drug called tPA can break up a clot that has blocked an artery and can result in a one third chance of little to no disability in three months. But, this medicine must be given within the first three hours. In order to do this, a hospital must be ready to evaluate and CT scan a patient with suspected stroke within minutes.

Recently the New York State Department of Health has begun certifying stroke centers in hospitals throughout New York State. St. Barnabas Hospital is the first hospital in the Bronx to be certified.

Patients with acute stroke receive rapid and high quality care and treatment. Protocols for work-up and treatment of stroke have been established which are drawn from The Brain Attack Coalition Guidelines, the American Academy of Neurology Clinical Guidelines, and consensus of stroke specialists and stroke center directors of the New York Presbyterian Network. The use of these protocols for the various types and severities of stroke ensures the quality and consistency in our care for patients with strokes.

The St. Barnabas Hospital Stroke Center combines the services of Emergency Medicine, Neurology, Critical Care, Radiology, Nursing, physical, occupational and speech therapy, dietary and social services. Working together, these varied specialties provide the comprehensive care that a person who suffers a stroke needs.