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Primary and Comprehensive Certified Stroke Center Capabilities

Broward Health Medical Center is a designated Comprehensive Stroke Centers, recognized by the Joint Commission – the highest national standard of quality improvement and patient safety in healthcare. Broward Health North is a DNV Healthcare certified Comprehensive Stroke Center - deeming expertise in treating stroke patients. A Comprehensive Stroke Center designation means that our team provides not only intravenous thrombolytics, but more complex services, including access to advanced imaging techniques, the ability to provide endovascular procedures around the clock, and neurosurgical treatment for a full spectrum of stroke care 24/7.

The Joint Commission certified Primary Stroke Centers at Broward Health Imperial Point and Broward Health Coral Springs provide access to a stroke team, neurologist, and intravenous thrombolytic treatment 24/7.

 

Our Stroke Center Locations

• Broward Health Medical Center (Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center)
Broward Health North (Comprehensive Stroke Center)
Broward Health Imperial Point (Primary Stroke Center)
Broward Health Coral Springs (Primary Stroke Center)

 

Broward Health Stroke Alert Team Available 24/7

Timing is of the essence for stroke care, so the initial assessment and treatment of stroke begins in Broward Health’s Emergency Department. We collaborate with Emergency Medical Services pre-hospital to ensure prompt neurological care. The Stroke Alert team is active 24/7 and comprised of emergency medicine physicians, neurologists, neurointerventionalists, neurosurgeons, interventional radiologists, and stroke certified nursing care.

 

Stroke Awards and Performance

  • Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus, Target: Stroke Advanced Therapy Honor Roll and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll recognition in the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Get with The Guidelines-Stroke® program 
  • Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll, recognition in the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines-Stroke® program 

Types of Strokes We Treat

Brain Stem Stroke

Cryptogenic Stroke

Subarachnoid Hemorrhagic Stroke

Ischemic Stroke

Transient Ischemic Attack (Mini-Stroke)

Intracerebral Hemorrhagic Stroke

Posterior Circulation Stroke

Broward Health Stroke Quality and Outcomes

Broward Health treatments exceed the American Stroke Association benchmarks. Our stroke team at Broward Health responds quickly with expert stroke care, and our outcomes show the benefits of that quick response.

 

Door to Needle Time

During an ischemic stroke, 1.9 million neurons are lost each minute there is no flow to the brain so quick treatment equates to improved outcomes. Intravenous Alteplase (clot buster drug) administered within 30 minutes of arrival to the Emergency Department is the goal, this is referred to as the “door to needle” time.

 

 

Thrombolytic Use Percentage

Percentage of Ischemic Stroke Patients who receive intravenous thrombolytics. 

 

 

Thrombolytic Complication Rate 

Percentage of Patients who receive intravenous Alteplase and experience a post administration complication, such as a hemorrhage.  

 

Door to Groin Puncture Time

Ischemic stroke can also present with a large occlusion in a brain vessel. These are referred to as “large vessel occlusions” that can often be treated with endovascular therapy commonly called a mechanical thrombectomy. Time of artery puncture for this procedure to start is referred to as the “door to groin” time, with a goal of 60 minutes or less from hospital arrival time. 

 

Mechanical Thrombectomy Utilization Rate

Percentage of Acute Stroke Patients with large vessels occlusions who receive endovascular therapy with a successful mechanical thrombectomy.

 
 

Stroke Mortality Rate

Stroke Mortality Rate is the percentage of stroke patients whose death occurs within 30 days of admission to the hospital.

 

Procedure Complication Rate 

Patients who receive a carotid endarterectomy or a carotid stent are at high risk for stroke. These patients who receive carotid procedures are tracked for complications such as post-procedure stroke/death. Patients who receive diagnostic cerebral angiograms to view the vessels in the brain are also at risk for post-procedure complications such as stroke/death.

 

Learn the Signs of a Stroke

Illustration of brain imposed on a glass man with a headache
Healthcare worker holding a sheet of brain scans

Why Choose Broward Health?

Stroke care at Broward Health means our dedicated stroke team takes care of your needs from the moment you arrive in the Emergency Department through to recovery and rehabilitation. Our services and treatments include:

  • tPA - the “clot busting” drug
  • Interventional or endovascular treatments
  • Inpatient and Outpatient Rehabilitation Units accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).
  • Rehabilitation Units that earned the Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for Disease-Specific Care Certification in stroke rehabilitation.

Meet Our Team

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