Stroke Care
Comprehensive Stroke Care
A stroke is a disruption of blood flow to part of the brain. This causes the brain cells near the disruption to die because they do not get the oxygen they need from the blood.
The Stroke Program at Beverly Hospital offers the full range of care related to stroke. Beverly Hospital has been certified as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission, demonstrating our commitment to safety and high quality care.
Our program encompasses a multi-faceted approach to care. It includes:
- Community education on the risk factors, signs and symptoms of stroke, and the importance of calling 911 when stroke symptoms are present
- An exceptional team of physicians, nurses and staff who are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and are trained to diagnose stroke and administer the most effective life- and brain-saving treatment quickly.
- Help for individuals who need to manage stroke risk factors such as smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity.
- Ongoing monitoring, care and counseling for patients who have had a stroke.
- Full range of outpatient-based rehabilitative services for the neurologically impaired, including speech, occupational and physical therapy services.
If you or someone you know is experiencing stroke symptoms, proceed to the nearest emergency room or contact 911 immediately.
Types of Stroke
A transient ischemic attack (TIA) occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked temporarily. TIA causes stroke symptoms that last for a short time, then go away. This is why TIAs are called “mini-strokes.” Having a TIA means there is a problem that should be corrected.
TIAs are a warning that a more serious stroke may occur. One-third of all stroke patients had TIA symptoms before their stroke. To prevent a future stroke, you must get treatment for a TIA.
Ischemic Strokes account for 87% of all strokes.
Ischemic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain is blocked and blood flow is stopped. The blockage may be from a blood clot.
A clot that forms in an artery is called a thrombus. A clot that forms in the heart or an artery leading to the brain is an embolus.
In ischemic stroke, the clot travels to the brain and blocks a brain artery. Oxygen is then reduced or completely cut off to that part of the brain.
Hemorrhagic strokes are caused by a weakened vessel that ruptures and bleeds into the surrounding brain. The blood accumulates and compresses the surrounding brain tissue. As a result, brain cells in the affected area die.
Hemorrhagic strokes make up about 13% of stroke cases.
Types of Hemorrhagic Stroke
- Intracerebral hemorrhage: A small artery in the brain can break and spill blood into nearby brain tissue. Brain cells in the area are destroyed. This stroke is called an intracerebral hemorrhage, or “ICH” for short. High blood pressure is usually the cause of this type of stroke.
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage: A large artery in the brain may become weak. It may stretch out, like a balloon filling with water. The “balloon” is called an aneurysm. The aneurysm may break, spilling blood into the space between the brain tissue and the membrane that covers the brain. This membrane is called the arachnoid membrane. The stroke is called a subarachnoid hemorrhage, or “SAH” for short.
Quality Improvement Initiatives
Beverly Hospital participates in quality improvement initiatives related to stroke care. Together, they allow us to evaluate and improve stroke care more efficiently and comprehensively. We also work to improve stroke care in a coordinated way with both state and national programs.
- Primary Stroke Center. Beverly Hospital has earned certification as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission. The Primary Stroke Center certification recognizes Beverly Hospital’s commitment to adhere to national standards for safety and quality in caring for the specialized needs of stroke patients.
- Get With the Guidelines-Stroke Program (GWTG). Beverly Hospital participates in the GWTG program. The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association developed this program to improve the quality of care and outcomes for stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA).
- Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program. The Coverdell Program is a federally funded quality improvement program administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and developed with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. This collaboration is a leading-edge approach to reducing disability related to stroke.
- Primary Stroke Service Hospital. Beverly Hospital has been designated by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health as a Primary Stroke Service Hospital. This means that we are capable of providing emergency stroke care 24/7. Our stroke team can respond to acute stroke patients to make a rapid determination regarding the efficacy of thrombolytics.
Stroke Survivorship Garden
Act Fast, Call 911
If you think you or someone else is having a stroke, act fast and call 911.
