Primary Stroke Center

Holy Name, licensed by the State of New Jersey as a Primary Stroke Center is one of the first Medical Centers in New Jersey to earn Primary Stroke Center designation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization — the nation's leading health care evaluation and accreditation organization. With both the Joint Commission designation and a five-star rating from HealthGrades™, the Primary Stroke Center at Holy Name Medical Center provides comprehensive services that quickly intervene to lessen the effects of a stroke, stabilize the patient, and then return him or her to everyday functioning.

Primary Stroke Centers are certified when they have:

• An acute stroke team available 24/7, which includes a physician experienced in diagnosing and treating cerebrovascular disease
• Written procedures that streamline and accelerate the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients
• Coordination of emergency medical service personnel with stroke center staff
• Emergency department staff trained in diagnosing and treating stroke
• A stroke unit for specialized monitoring and inpatient care
• Neurosurgical services including on-site neuroimaging and laboratory
• Rehabilitation services for physical, occupational and speech therapies
• An outcomes and quality improvement program
• Education programs for the center's professional staff

Do you know the signs of a stroke?

At the onset of a stroke

Board-certified emergency medicine physicians and nurses certified in emergency care:

• Evaluate, assess, and monitor immediately all patients with signs and symptoms of stroke
• Immediately administer a standard diagnostic protocol of tests (including blood work, CT scan, and a blood pressure reading)
• If appropriate, administer TPA, a "clot-busting" medication, if the patient is within a four and one half hour window of the onset of experiencing symptoms
• Begin other medications, as determined by the emergency medicine physicians

Once patients are stabilized

They are admitted to the intensive care unit or Holy Name's designated stroke unit, where board-certified neurologists and specially-trained and certified nurses continue their medical care. If prescribed by their physicians, patients are evaluated for physical, occupational, speech, or swallowing therapy to improve functioning.

Once patients are discharged

Home care services are available to provide a smooth, seamless transition to recovery.