Medical Intervention:

• Physicians provide "whole person" care, considering pre-stroke physical ability, family support, education and medical condition of the patient.
• Physicians are the interdisciplinary health care team leader, and coordinate the care of the patient on the unit.
• Physicians address impairments and disability directly related to the stroke, and also emphasize stroke prevention

Nursing Care:

• Nurses are certified in rehabilitation nursing.
•  Nurses are certified in the administration of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)

Physical Therapy:

• A physical therapist with Neurology Specialist Certification from the American Physical Therapy Association is part of the stroke team.
• Physical Therapists use a variety of treatment approaches including Neurodevelopment treatment, motor learning and functional movement reeducation to maximize care for the patient with stroke.
• A large, spacious inpatient treatment gym, holding state of the art equipment including a car for transfer practice.
• An excellent working relationship with orthotist consultants to meet the bracing needs of patients.
• An excellent working relationship with a local medical equipment company with rehabilitation equipment specialists to service the patients' equipment needs.
• An extensive outpatient physical therapy department also well trained to further the rehabilitation gains to be made by the patient.

Occupational Therapy:

• Occupational Therapists focus on the 'whole person' in the design of patient care plans.
• Make recommendations for assistive and adaptive equipment to improve function.
• Provide visual screening and testing with recommendations for the treatment of appropriate disorders.
• Provide expertise in splinting.
• Provide driving evaluations and education for patients returning to the community.
• Coordinate modifications in the home setting, and community reentry.

Speech Therapy:

• Speech therapists certified in deep pharyngeal neuromuscular stimulation and oral-facial electrical stimulation.
• Specialized treatment for disorders of articulation, fluency, voice, language, cognition and swallowing.

Recreation Therapy:

• The recreation therapist provides specialized and individualized adaptive techniques and equipment for the patient surviving stroke.
• Treatment Programs include a community reentry program and pet visitation.

Neuropsychology:

• Individual one-on-one counseling sessions
• Specialized cognitive and memory testing
• A behavior management program that includes a Special Intensive
• Assistant Program, providing behavior monitoring and management.

Case Management:

• A case manager certified in case management and rehabilitation nursing
• Outstanding relationships with insurance agencies and referring centers

What is a stroke?

Stroke is the number three killer and the number one cause of adult disability in the United States today. In a stroke, or cerebrovascular accident (CVA), damage occurs to the brain because of a problem with the brain’s blood vessels. The blood vessels become clogged or burst and the brain cells fail to receive the oxygen they need. The cells begin to die. Once the cells are dead, the parts of the body fed by those cells can no longer function.

Types of Strokes

• Infarction - Infarction - Thrombosis - A thrombosis is the formation of a clot in the blood vessel. If the clot forms in the neck or brain and blocks the flow of blood to the brain, a stroke occurs.
• Embolus - An embolus is a blood clot that has traveled from one part of the body to another. When the clot gets lodged in a blood vessel and blocks blood from flowing to the brain, a stroke occurs.
• Hemorrhage - A hemorrhage is a large amount of blood being discharged from a blood vessel. A hemorrhage usually occurs when a part of the vessel is weakened (aneurysm) and breaks open.

Warning Signs of a Stroke

Warning signs of a stroke result from a temporary lack of oxygen to the brain. This lack of oxygen may cause:

• sudden tingling or numbness on one side of body
• confusion
• loss or impairment of speech (slurred speech)
• dizziness or weakness on one side of the body
• visual disturbances

Since the symptoms are only temporary, many people do not seek medical attention. If you notice any of these warning signs, consult your family physician.

Signs of a Stroke

• weakness or numbness of the face, arm, or leg on one side of the body
• change or loss of vision and speech, or trouble talking
• severe headaches
• unexplained dizziness or sudden falls

If you experience any of these symptoms, consult the closest acute care facility as soon as possible.

Risk Factors for Stroke

• Uncontrollable Factors
• Heredity - If there is a history of heart problems or stroke, you are at higher risk for a stroke.
• Gender - Generally, men are at higher risk for a stroke than women. However, the incidence of strokes is increasing among women.
• Race - The African-American population in the United States has one of the highest incidences of strokes in the world.

Partially Controllable Factors

• Heart disease - Follow your doctor’s instructions for medication, diet, and exercise.
• Hypertension (high blood pressure) - Most people cannot tell when they have high blood pressure. Get your blood pressure checked by your doctor and follow his or her instructions.
• Diabetes - Follow dietary restrictions and doctor’s instructions.

Controllable Factors

• High Cholesterol - Your blood cholesterol level refers to the amount of fat in your blood. The fat causes plaque to build up. This fat can break off and lead to an embolic stroke. A low-fat diet is recommended.
• Smoking - Smoking causes the blood vessels to become smaller. If the vessels already have plaque, smoking increases the risk of a stroke.
• Alcohol - Alcohol becomes a risk factor when you consume too much. Caution should be exercised when using alcohol while taking medications. Ask your doctor about the roll alcohol should play in your life.
• Obesity - Obesity is defined as being 25% over your ideal weight. Obesity contributes to diabetes, heart conditions, high blood pressure, and other medical conditions.
• Stress - Learning to adapt to the changes in your life is important. Seek assistance if you need help handling the stress change can cause.
• Oral Contraceptives - Women who use birth control pills are at higher risk of stroke than those who do not. The risk increases after the age of 30.
• Cocaine - Use of cocaine causes the blood vessels to constrict, increases the rate the heart contracts and raises the blood pressure. Using cocaine puts your life at risk.
• Exercise - Regular aerobic exercise that increases your resting heart rate by one and a half (1-1/2) times will help to lower your risk of a stroke. Ask your family physician to recommend an exercise program.