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 2022, Saint Peter’s achieved certification as an advanced 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.

An advanced 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 an advanced 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 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