Lancaster General Hospital Certified as a Primary Stroke Center

Lancaster General Hospital received Primary Stroke Center certification from JCAHO (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations). The Joint Commission's Certificate of Distinction for Primary Stroke Centers recognizes centers that make exceptional efforts to foster better outcomes for stroke care.

Lancaster General Hospital has a dedicated team specially trained for stroke patients. Our skilled team members include: neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists, cardiologists, radiologists and interventional radiologists, physiatrists, nurses, nurse care managers and neuro rehab specialists. The entire team pulled together for the certification and continues to treat stroke patients with a comprehensive program that provides outstanding care. At Lancaster General Hospital, it’s about capability, not availability. When you or your family member has a stroke, who do you want by your side?

The Illness We Take For Granted

Today, few illnesses produce as many varied and challenging problems as a stroke or "brain attack." Its effects may hardly be noticeable or they may last a lifetime. Symptoms can be well defined, like weakness on one side of the face and body, or subtle, like changes in speech. Recovery may be complete, partial or minimal. Some stroke sufferers go on to lead normal lives, while others may be permanently disabled. The danger, for most of us, is that we tend to take stroke for granted. Stroke is one of the major causes of disability among adults in the United States and is the third leading cause of death!

What Is A Stroke?

A stroke or "brain attack" occurs when part of the brain is temporarily deprived of oxygen-rich blood. This condition can be brought about by the following conditions:

Hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis) – vessels in the brain that are narrowed by fatty build-up are at risk of blockage due to blood clots. Hardening of the arteries may be accelerated by smoking, high blood pressure, elevated serum cholesterol, obesity, and diabetes. Cerebral amboli – a variety of medical conditions may cause blood clots or other particles to be released into the blood supply. Vasculitis – several uncommon diseases may cause the walls of blood vessels in your brain to swell, which can block the flow of blood and lead to a stroke.

Learn more, take our Stroke Quiz.

How To Spot The Early Warning Signs

The symptoms that signal a decreased blood supply to the brain are called Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIA). TIAs resolve within hours, but must be taken seriously. If you, or anyone you know experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor. The longer these symptoms continue, the more likely the stroke may cause permanent damage.

Important Stroke Facts

Stroke Symptoms

• Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding. 
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
• Sudden sever headache with no known cause. 

Call 911!

To obtain proper treatment, your doctor may send you directly to the emergency department at Lancaster General Hospital. If the above stroke symptoms occur and you can’t reach your doctor, call 911! Time is critical! The faster you obtain help the better chance you have of limiting, or preventing, brain damage.

Brain Attacks Can Be Prevented!

Every year, research labs and scientists discover new drugs and new procedures that can help stop a stroke while it’s happening. The Lancaster General Stroke Center uses a drug called Tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA). Administered intravenously within three hours of a stroke, this drug can dissolve a blockage and alleviate many symptoms. Unfortunately, not all stroke patients are good candidates for drug therapy. For example, strokes caused by ruptured blood vessels may be worsened by some drugs. Additionally, strokes which have lasted more than several hours may not respond at all.

The Risk Factors You Can Control

It’s important to control any risk factors, which may include high blood pressure, diabetes, irregular heartbeat, heart valve problems, smoking, elevated blood cholesterol levels, carotid artery disease, and others. Controlling these conditions may not speed recovery, but it may reduce the chance of having another stroke. For example, high blood pressure or diabetes may respond to a change in diet or exercise. Your doctor can advise you about what changes you should make. Medication can also be used to prevent stroke. Some stroke survivors benefit from chances of having another stroke due to blood clots. Some patients may need medications that lower blood pressure, improve blood lipid or cholesterol levels and regulate an irregular heartbeat.

When Surgery Makes Sense

Sometimes surgery should be considered as an option to prevent stroke. For example, patients with severe narrowing of the carotid arteries – the two large blood vessels that travel up the neck to the brain – may be at great risk for stroke. Your doctor may be able to detect this narrowing with a stethoscope. The extent of blockage can then be measured and treated by removing fatty deposits from the wall of the carotid artery to reduce stroke risk. Your doctor can help you decide if you are a candidate for this operation.

The Rehabilitation Process

The sooner rehabilitation begins, the more likely the patient will benefit. In fact, your doctor will probably start the rehabilitation process within days of a stroke’s onset. Rehabilitation takes many forms depending on the patient’s needs. It is available on an inpatient, outpatient or at-home basis. For some, emphasis may be placed on increasing strength, coordination and motor skills. Speech therapy, instructions on proper eating and food preparation techniques may be appropriate for patients having trouble swallowing. Because a stroke affects the entire family, special attention is focused on helping stroke sufferers relearn daily activities such as walking, dressing, or driving, with the understanding and support of family members.

Successful Recovery Demands A Team Approach

Just as a stroke has many different symptoms, a patient’s ability to adapt to a stroke varies greatly. At the Stroke Center, we understand that patients are individuals, and we tailor treatment to each patient’s symptoms, needs and abilities. Since stroke symptoms are often complex, we believe that successful stroke treatment and recovery demand a team approach. The Lancaster General Stroke Center offers a comprehensive continuum of care for all stroke patients. Services range from prevention to stroke care management, rehabilitation to medical equipment and home healthcare services.

The Stroke Center's Full Range of Care

• Neurologists
• Neuroradiologists
• Neurosurgeons
• Neuropsychologists
• Cardiologists
• Physiatrists
• Neurology Care Managers
• Neuro Rehab Specialists
• Visiting Nurse Association of Lancaster
• Horizon Healthcare Services

To learn more about the Lancaster General Stroke Center, or to discuss how its many capabilities can be of specific benefit, call us at (717) 544-3170. We’d be happy to answer you questions, meet with you, or arrange for you to see one of our trained care management specialists.