Stroke

Saint Peter’s is committed to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines. For stroke patients, 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 designated stroke unit where patients are fully monitored and staff — including nurses, nurses’ aides and patient care technicians — are trained in treating stroke.

In 2009, Saint Peter’s University Hospital was designated a primary stroke center by the New Jersey State Department of Health and Senior Services. In 2020, Saint Peter’s achieved certification as a primary stroke center by The Joint Commission, demonstrating that the hospital has consistently met quality metrics and provided some of the best evidence-based care for its stroke patients.

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 was also the first hospital in New Jersey to be recognized as an Age-Friendly Health System by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, and this certification by The Joint Commission further emphasizes Saint Peter’s commitment to older adults.

Someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds. The American Heart Association’s BE FAST campaign provides an easy to remember guide and plan of action for the most common symptoms of stroke.

B – Balance: loss of balance, dizziness or headache
E – Eyes: blurred vision

F – Face: one side of the face is drooping
A – Arms: weakness or sudden numbness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
S – Speech: difficulty or sudden confusion when speaking, trouble speaking and understanding speech
T – Time to call 911 and note when the symptoms first appeared