Saint Vincent Stroke Center

Find a Neurosciences Specialist

According to the American Stroke Association, about 700,000 Americans each year suffer a new or recurrent stroke. That means, on average, a stroke occurs every 45 seconds. Every second counts when it comes to treating a stroke. Recognizing the signs and symptoms, and getting to the Saint Vincent Emergency Department quickly ensures the best chance of recovery.

The Saint Vincent Stroke Center features a 24/7 stroke alert team and the region’s only specially trained neurointerventionalist, Charles Romero, MD, using digital biplane technology. Saint Vincent was among the first hospitals in the country to install Phillips Flat Panel Digital Biplane Technology for Neurosciences. This imaging technology lengthens the window of opportunity for stroke patients to receive innovative procedures that can stop a stroke in its tracks and reverse the effects of some strokes as they are happening. The Saint Vincent Stroke Center is nationally accredited and recognized, having received the Gold Seal of Approval™ from The Joint Commission for Primary Stroke Centers and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Get With The GuidelinesSM Stroke Silver Performance Achievement Award.  These awards recognize Saint Vincent’s continuing commitment to the highest standards of stroke care. 

Signs and Symptoms of a Stroke

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg; especially on one side of the body
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

24/7 Stroke Alert Team
Medical intervention must take place within the first eight hours of the onset of stroke symptoms in order for a person to have a chance at full recovery. Saint Vincent’s Stroke Alert Team will provide interventional treatment, in addition to tPA therapy, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The team uses a stroke-specific protocol to expedite care for patients who exhibit stroke symptoms to ensure appropriate treatment is provided to lessen the risk of permanent damage.

Neurointervention
Neurointervention is a minimally invasive approach to the treatment of vascular conditions of the brain and spine. This treatment involves the use of catheters to target problems from inside the blood vessel. Neurointerventionalists are specially trained in using highly advanced imagery, such as digital biplane technology, to guide them in treating blood vessel disorders of the head, neck and spine. This allows a neurointerventionalist to access, diagnose and treat conditions such as stroke, aneurysms and tumors, which would normally require conventional surgery.

For more information about Saint Vincent Neurosciences, please call
814.452.5500 or 800.326.8080