Stroke

Stroke is a cardiovascular disease in the same family as heart and vascular disease. It is the nation’s third leading cause of death and the leading cause of disability. Stroke patients receive care from neurologists, including those with a stroke subspecialty, in the Meadowbrook Building. 
 
Stroke occurs when a blood vessel that brings oxygen and nutrients to the brain bursts or is clogged by a blood clot or some other particle. The brain does not get the blood and oxygen it needs, causing nerve cells in the affected area of the brain to stop working suddenly, then die within minutes or hours. When nerve cells can’t work, the part of the body they control can’t work either. The effects of stroke often are permanent.

Methodist Hospital’s Stroke Program is an area leader in stroke care and certified as a primary stroke center by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

Learn more

• Warning signs 
• Risk factors  
• Comprehensive rehabilitation
• Stroke INSPIRE

Stroke services

We focus on the urgent needs of stroke patients to ensure treatment is provided when it counts most. Our stroke code team rapidly evaluates patients in the early hours after the start of stroke to determine whether they can receive thrombolytic (clot-dissolving) treatment to try to reverse the process. Care in the Methodist Hospital stroke unit closely addresses the critical needs of stroke victims in the first several days. A comprehensive assessment with leading edge technology can provide the best understanding of the stroke process for patients and their families. This technology includes, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), carotid ultrasound, transcranial Doppler, CT imaging, blood flow imaging, cardiac services and catheter angiography.

Our stroke rehabilitation program offers a unique, comprehensive team approach including:

• speech pathology
• occupational and physical therapy
• INSPIRE program, offering support groups and education