Stroke Care


By demonstrating compliance with standards for health care quality and safety, DMC Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital earned designation as a Primary Stroke Center from the Joint Commission. 

Stroke Team

Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital’s stroke team is comprised of highly skilled and trained physicians and nurses .  Along with state-of-the-art diagnostic brain imaging capabilities the intensive care unit is skilled in handling neurological emergencies along with the hospital’s inpatient stroke care unit.  Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital also has around the clock access to neurological specialist at DMC Harper University Hospital through video robots located in their Emergency Department.

All of these services ensure that patients coming to the DMC will have highly-specialized stroke care from the moment they enter our Emergency Departments, during their inpatient stay, and through post-acute rehabilitation.

Recognizing the Warning Signs of Stroke

During a stroke, brain cells that help control abilities such as speech, movement and memory die.  Each stroke patient is affected differently.  Some people who only suffer a small stroke may only experience weakness of an arm or leg while people who have a larger stroke may be paralyzed on one side or lose their ability to speak.  Some people recover completely from strokes, but many more survivors will have some type of disability.  Recognizing risk factors and the warning signs, as well as seeking immediate treatment can save both lives and functioning.

 

Risk factors that increase your risk of stroke include age, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol levels, heart disease, smoking and lack of physical inactivity. Knowing the signs of a stroke and receiving immediate medical care is critical.

 

 Warning signs of stroke include:

  • Sudden numbness or weakness of the 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, severe headache with no known cause
  • Be prepared for an emergency.

Not all of these warning signs occur in every stroke. Don’t ignore signs of stroke, even if they go away.

 

It is vitally important to be prepared for an emergency.  Keep a list of emergency rescue service numbers next to the telephone and in your pocket, wallet or purse.  Find out which area hospitals are primary stroke centers that have 24-hour emergency stroke care. And know in advance which hospital or medical facility is nearest your home or office.  If you have one or more stroke symptoms that last more than a few minutes, don't delay.  Call 9-1-1 immediately .