As the third leading cause of death in our country, stroke is a national and local epidemic:

• Every 45 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke.
  
• Every 3 minutes, someone dies from a stroke.
  
• Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability.
  
• In Oakland and Berkeley, the stroke death rate is higher than the national average.

Because of the widespread community need for fast and effective stroke treatment, Alta Bates Summit developed a Regional Stroke Center. Our Stroke Center is dedicated to quick response, advanced treatment and comprehensive rehabilitation services that span all three medical center campuses.

Our stroke services have been recognized as among the top 5% in the United States

• For two consecutive years the medical center has received Five Stars, HealthGrades®
  
• HealthGrades® Stroke Care Excellence Award
  
• Alta Bates Summit is also designated as a "Get with the Guidelines" Stroke Hospital by the American Heart and Stroke Association

Our Regional Stroke Center offers a full continuum of care and an interdisciplinary team of experts: Specialist physicians including a Medical Director (a neurologist) oversee the care provided. Our physician team also includes board certified emergency medicine doctors, radiologists, interventional radiologists, neurosurgeons, and physiatrists (physicians specially trained in rehabilitation.)

• Stroke Warning Signs
• Our Stroke-Ready Emergency Department
• Critical Care & Intermediate Care
• Designated Stroke Unit
• Acute Rehabilitation
• Outpatient Rehabilitation Services
• Support Groups
• Community Education

Stroke Warning Signs

Strokes happen fast and symptoms include sudden:

• Numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
  
• Confusion, trouble speaking or trouble understanding
  
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
  
• Dizziness, loss of balance or coordination or trouble walking
  
• Severe headache with no known cause

Stroke patients have effective treatment options available to them, but time is of the essence. A clot-busting drug called tPA is one option, however, it can only be administered within three hours of the first appearance of signs and symptoms. Nationwide, on average less than 3% of stroke patients receive this treatment because they arrive at the emergency department too late.
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Our Stroke-Ready Emergency Department

Coordination with Emergency Medical Services ensures that treatment begins in the field. EMS calls ahead to our Emergency Department (ED) to activate our Rapid Response Stroke Team. Under direction of a neurologist and specially trained Registered Nurse, the Stroke Team immediately initiates comprehensive evaluation and treatment of patients who may be victims of stroke, quickly determining whether a stroke is ischemic (blocked blood vessel) or hemorrhagic (caused by a bleeding blood vessel).

The ED team provides fast, appropriate care and referral:

• Administration of tPA (clot-busting drug) when appropriate and if within three hours of onset of symptoms
  
• Rapid neurological imaging
  
• Rapid laboratory test results
  
• Medications including thrombolytic, neuroprotective and antiplatelet agents
  
• Endovascular treatments

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Critical Care & Intermediate Care

Stroke patients with significant strokes and those who have received the clot busting treatment may be admitted to our Critical Care Unit. In the Critical Care and Immediate Care units, patients are cared for by board-certified critical care physicians and other specialty trained physicians and nurses. Our 1:1 or 1:2 nurse-to-patient ratios allows nurses to provide intensive and focused care during this critical time of the recovery process. We use advanced monitoring equipment and provide individualized care planning based on daily multidisciplinary rounds.
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Designated Stroke Unit

Alta Bates Campus (View Map)
Patients may be admitted to our Stroke Unit directly from the Emergency Department or from critical care/intermediate care units. The Stroke Unit delivers care using national stroke guidelines and best practices. Our nursing staff has advanced training in caring for stroke patients. Care is personalized, coordinated and provided in an interdisciplinary manner. This unit focuses on stabilizing medical complications and begins the rehabilitation process. Physical and occupational therapists and speech/language pathologists are part of the treatment team and provide rehabilitation early on to optimize recovery.
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Acute Rehabilitation

Herrick Campus (View Map)
Once a patient’s acute medical needs are met, the rehabilitation process accelerates with admission to the Acute Rehabilitation Unit. Our highly structured, intensive, interdisciplinary program treats patients who have a wide range of rehabilitation needs following a stroke. This treatment team consists of physiatrists; certified rehabilitation nurses; physical, occupational, speech and recreational therapists, and neuropsychologists. Patients receive ongoing education and support to maximize their successful recovery and help prevent the reoccurrence of stroke.

Our Acute Rehabilitation Program is nationally recognized for excellence in sophisticated rehabilitation care:

• Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities
  
• 2004 winner of Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction E-compass Award

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Outpatient Rehabilitation Services

Herrick Campus (View Map) & Summit Campus (View Map)
With a goal for patients to return to as much independence as possible, our Outpatient Rehab Services offer interdisciplinary services including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech language pathology, neuropsychology, the Disabled Community Health Clinic, a wheelchair / seating clinic, and support groups.
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Support Groups

Support is essential to recovery, and the stroke center offers these groups free of charge:

Stroke Support Group
Rehabilitation and coping techniques for stroke survivors, families and friends.
First Tuesday of the month
4:00 to 5:00 pm
Call (510) 204-4503

Aphasia Group
Wednesdays
4:30 to 6:00 pm
Call (510) 204-4625

Support Group for Younger Adults with Stroke
Second Monday of the month
1:00 to 2:00 pm
Call (510) 204-4407

Rehabilitation Action Program (RAP)
For inpatients and current and former outpatients to share ideas and problem solve ways to make life after a stroke more enjoyable.
Third Thursday of the month
3:00 to 4:00 pm
Call (510) 204-4198
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Community Education

Through our Stroke Outreach Committee, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center provides health education, research, health-provider training, and outreach, with a special focus on underserved and minority populations. Our Community Benefit programs including the Ethnic Health Institute, Asian Outreach, Health Access, and the Health Ministry Program partner with public and private healthcare institutions, academic health programs, health insurers and practitioners, community-based organizations, and community leaders to share stroke awareness and prevention information throughout the East Bay region.

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