Stroke Care

Know the stroke warning signs

When a stroke strikes it is important to recognize what is happening and act rapidly. One easy to remember way is BE FAST.
B- Balance: Sudden loss of balance or coordination
E- Eyes: Sudden vision change/trouble seeing
F- Face: One side of the face droops when the person smiles
A- Arm: One arm drifts down when the person raises arms
S- Speech: Person's speech in slurred, slow or strange
T- Time to call 9-1-1

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability for those in the United States. Due to our commitment to providing the highest level of stroke care for our community, Adventist Health Tulare is working on achieving certification to become an Advanced Primary Stroke Center. This means the hospital has the processes and teams in place to best care for stroke patients.

Experiencing a stroke is scary, but when a patient walks into the emergency room at Adventist Health Tulare, they are already on their road to recovery, thanks to an immediate assessment and step-by-step care that continues even after they go home.

If you think you or a loved one might be having a stroke, call 9-1-1 or visit the ER immediately.Time is of the essence.

Providers and emergency staff will quickly stabilize stroke patients to avoid or reduce permanent damage. Telemedicine services are available for immediate stroke care. Telemedicine allows a neurologist to consult with Adventist Health physicians and patients through a web cam 24-hours a day 7-days a week. Through this technology, neurologists may observe and interact with patients to make medical recommendations for the best possible outcomes.

Some of our specific stroke services include caring for:

• Ischemic stroke: Results from an obstruction in a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain
• Transient ischemic attack (TIA, or "mini-stroke"): A temporary blockage in a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain, usually lasting only a few minutes; a TIA can be a warning sign of stroke
• Carotid stenosis: Narrowing of the carotid arteries, which supply blood to the brain, due to atherosclerosis or build-up of fat, cholesterol and other substances in the blood stream

Seeking immediate treatment — within 90 minutes — for stroke and symptoms like stroke significantly increases your chances for recovery and survival.