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Stroke and Neurovascular Program
You couldn’t have a more
dedicated team on your side
Without warning, an artery in the brain may become blocked, or it may burst. When this happens, blood and oxygen can no longer reach parts of the brain. Brain cells, deprived of oxygen, begin to die within minutes, and parts of the body begin to shut down. This is a stroke.
Stroke — the nation’s No. 1 cause of adult disability and the third leading cause of death — is a medical emergency.
- An ischemic stroke is caused by blockage of an artery.
- A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel ruptures, causing bleeding in the brain.
- A transient ischemic stroke (TIA) is a “mini stroke” or “warning stroke” that produces stroke-like symptoms but no lasting damage; an obstruction (blood clot) occurs for a short time and tends to resolve itself. TIAs are strong indicators of a possible major stroke.
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If you recognize stroke warning signs, call 911 for immediate transport to a hospital utilizing the most current acute stroke interventions.
Learn more about our quality efforts and read our quality reports in the Quality Care section. | Time, experience and expertise make all the difference in the treatment of stroke. Not all hospitals have staff experienced in providing the latest, most effective stroke therapies. Established in 1995, the Stroke and Neurovascular Program at Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin was the first of its kind to serve patients in eastern Wisconsin with a comprehensive approach to care. Today, the Stroke and Neurovascular Program continues to provide new and better ways to diagnose, treat and prevent stroke, and help people who experience stroke to recover more fully.
Many features set the Stroke and Neurovascular of Program apart:
- The Stroke and Neurovascular Program was the first in Wisconsin — and among the first in the nation — to receive certification as a Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission. This certification is considered the “gold seal of approval” in the healthcare industry. Staff at Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin have been leaders in providing extensive training and guidance to other area hospitals seeking certification.
- The Froedtert Acute Stroke Team (FAST) at Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin has the training and expertise to treat all types of stroke safely and efficiently. The team is ready 24 hours a day to respond to the acute needs of stroke patients.
- Quality care — the care of stroke patients at Froedtert & The Medical College is based on proven clinical evidence and established guidelines for stroke care. Froedtert & The Medical College are leading stroke quality improvement in the state of Wisconsin.
- Diagnostic tests that pinpoint the location and cause of stroke.
- Advanced treatments — medication, surgery and interventional treatments can stop a stroke if provided early enough. In some cases, treatments provided by interventional neurologists can extend the window of treatment to 12 hours.
- State-of-the-art Neurosciences Intensive Care Unit and Acute Care Units offer specialized care to stroke patients.
- Comprehensive stroke rehabilitation services based on the extent of a patient’s disability.
- Active clinical research aimed at finding new ways to treat stroke and prevent recurrent stroke.
- Free stroke risk assessments; find out if a session is being offered now
Stroke FAQ
Despite its position as the third leading cause of death and the number one cause of adult disability in the United States, overall public awareness of stroke — its symptoms and treatments — remains relatively low. Know what a stroke is, its warning signs, treatments, and what you can do to reduce your risk. Learn more.
The Medical College of Wisconsin has been designated as a major hub in a new national network for emergency stroke, seizure, spinal cord and brain injury research. Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin have provided this link as a convenience for patients and visitors to this site. We are not responsible for the content of this external site. Whenever you leave our site, we will tell you because we feel it is important to make this distinction as we have not reviewed the privacy policies of any Web sites we link to from our site, and you should exercise care when visiting any other Web site.
Last Review Date: May 13, 2009 Online Editor(s): Christopher Sadler |
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