Stroke (Primary Stroke Centers)
Each Swedish campus — Ballard, First Hill, Issaquah and Cherry Hill — has been certified by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) as a Primary Stroke Center. To achieve certification, Swedish has assembled a team of highly skilled medical professionals — including emergency physicians, surgeons, neurologists, nurses, therapists, laboratory and pharmacy staff, radiologists, and even patient transporters — who are specially trained to respond quickly and completely to the needs of a stroke patient.
Appointments & Referrals
For more information about the Swedish Stroke Program, call 206-320-3484.
About Our Program
When a patient comes to any Swedish emergency department with symptoms of stroke:
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A trained Stroke Team is available around the clock, seven days a week, to evaluate a stroke patient within 15 minutes of arrival
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Each patient is evaluated and treated using a uniform and extensive set of guidelines that address both emergency treatment and ongoing care
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A head CT scan or brain MRI scan can be performed and interpreted within 45 minutes of the stroke patient being admitted
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A fully functioning medical laboratory is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week to analyze and provide test results in a timely manner
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A neurosurgeon is available, if needed
Comprehensive program of care
The Swedish Stroke Program also treats any underlying problems – such as vascular disease or atherosclerosis – that may be the cause of stroke, and offers:
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The latest advances in stroke care, ranging from "clot-busting" drugs to improved techniques for vascular surgery
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A dedicated stroke nurse who coordinates the care of stroke patients
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State-of-the-art facilities and the latest technology
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Outstanding specialists in cardiology and radiology and experts in rehabilitation, nursing and emergency medicine
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A high priority on research that may lead to shorter hospital stays, speedier recoveries and stroke prevention – for example, Swedish is investigating carotid stents to open blockages in the neck’s carotid arteries that can cause stroke
Online resources about stroke
To learn more about stroke symptoms, diagnosis and prevention, visit our Online Stroke Information Center or the Web sites of the American Stroke Association and the National Stroke Association.
