In 2009, Saint Peter’s University Hospital was designated a primary stroke center by the New Jersey State Department of Health and Senior Services. A primary stroke center is the first line of defense in diagnosing and treating stroke and preventing or minimizing permanent brain damage to the patient. To be designated a primary stroke center, a hospital must have, among other criteria, a specialized stroke team available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The facility must have computed tomography (CT) scanning or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) capabilities and a laboratory equipped and available to perform testing 24/7. It must also have acute (sudden-onset) rehabilitation services and access to a neurosurgical team, and must have a transfer agreement with a comprehensive stroke center to provide long-term rehabilitation and neurosurgery, if not available at the facility.
Saint Peter’s University Hospital has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get with The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award.
Saint Peter’s offers acute rehabilitation and neurosurgery, and has transfer agreements for long-term rehabilitation and certain highly complex interventions. In addition, Saint Peter’s has also established a six-bed designated stroke unit where patients are fully monitored and staffed — including nurses, nurses’ aides and patient care technicians — and trained in treating stroke.