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Time is Brain
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Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S.
At Baptist Health, we understand that the faster we can treat a stroke, the better the outcome. Our neurologists work closely with our emergency room teams and cardiovascular colleagues to ensure we are providing quick, effective care for every stroke patient.
The combined strength of Marcus Neuroscience Institute, established at Boca Raton Regional Hospital, and Miami Neuroscience Institute means that people in South Florida and beyond have access to excellence in stroke care. That begins with life-saving capabilities when a stroke occurs at one of our Baptist Health emergency care locations, to complete follow-up treatment, rehabilitation and prevention.
Our physicians can provide emergency treatment for ischemic stroke by administering clot-busting medications. We consistently deliver this treatment less than 30 minutes from the time a patient arrives in the emergency room, well below the American Heart Association’s (AHA) recommended time of 60 minutes or less. Our team is also able to start endovascular treatment to further treat the stroke within 60 minutes, below the AHA’s recommended time of 90 minutes.
These stroke treatment measures mean we have met or exceeded the requirements for a Comprehensive Stroke Center designation by the Joint Commission and DNV GL Healthcare, both of which are national organizations that accredit healthcare organizations, along with the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association. We have also been awarded Gold recognition for the American Heart Association’s Get with the Guidelines® – Stroke program and have been recognized as a Target: Stroke Honor Roll-Elite Plus hospital.
Which strokes or stroke-related conditions are treated at Baptist Health?
We excel at quickly and effectively treating patients with acute ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. We also work closely with our cardiovascular colleagues to help treat patients with complex brain aneurysms, arteriovenous fistula (AVF), cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVM) and other vascular problems that may cause or increase an individual’s risk of stroke.
How do Baptist Health experts diagnose strokes?
If you are experiencing symptoms of a stroke, we use our combined expertise and advanced imaging technology to scan you as quickly as possible to determine the cause and location of the stroke. We use computerized tomography angiography (CTA), magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and advanced perfusion imaging to look at the brain and blood vessels. These non-invasive tests can quickly and accurately show where there may be a blockage or diseased artery. This allows us to determine the most effective and fastest treatment option.
How is stroke treated at Baptist Health?
Our goal at Baptist Health is to treat every stroke quickly and effectively, so we can reduce the chance of lasting side effects or brain damage. When a patient arrives in one of our emergency rooms with stroke symptoms, we will work with our team of expert neuroradiologists to diagnose the condition as quickly as possible and treat it with clot-busting medications.
In addition to this treatment, our neurologists will work closely with physicians at Baptist Health’s cardiovascular institutes to use the latest treatment techniques and devices, including endovascular treatment, for removing blood clots or plaque from inside arteries. Our team may also decide to use coiling or flow diverters to help prevent blood flow from getting to an aneurysm or arteriovenous malformation, reducing its chance for rupture.
Our team is also focused on helping patients reduce their risk for additional strokes. At Baptist Health, every stroke patient undergoes testing to determine if he or she is at risk for another stroke. If you have an increased risk, we will provide personalized education and recommendations to help reduce your risk for another stroke.
Stroke Support Group
Baptist Health is the trusted source for stroke-related resources and education in our community. Together, we empower survivors and their circle of care to live a healthy life after stroke. In our complimentary virtual support sessions, we provide recovery information and allow stroke survivors, along with their families and friends, to find support while forming relationships with others who understand their journey.
Click here for dates, topics and Zoom webinar information.
Baptist Health – One system, many hospitals featuring the same cutting-edge technology to save time and lives
The latest in neurological technology, VIZ.ai, is artificial intelligence software that saves precious minutes and ensures that every member of the stroke victim’s care team is on the same page with diagnosis and treatment.
Marcus Neuroscience Institute's State-of-the-Art Technology
Marcus Neuroscience Institute’s new advanced neuro-interventional suite has the first-in-the-nation distinction of featuring two state-of-the-art technologies at one location: Boca Raton Regional Hospital, part of Baptist Health South Florida.
Baptist Health’s Miami Neuroscience Institute Leads U.S. Drug Trial to Treat ‘Large Vessel’ Ischemic Strokes
Baptist Health’s Miami Neuroscience Institute is set to take the lead in a national clinical trial that could improve treatment results for patients taken to the hospital suffering from acute ischemic strokes.
I want to say a big thank you to all of the doctors and nurses who took care of me at Baptist Hospital. They did a really great job of informing me and educating me on everything that was going on and kept me abreast of all of the developments in my case and reassuring me and my parents that they were going to do everything they could to help me.