Specialized Care at Mission's Stroke Center
One of the most important components of a Stroke Center is having a designated unit where patients receive specialized stroke care. The Stroke Unit is located on the sixth floor of the Memorial hospital building. Notice the artwork there; much of it has been provided by patients who began their stroke recovery on the unit.

Some of the advantages of a dedicated stroke unit like the one at Mission's Neurosciences Institute are:

• Specialized Staffing. The unit is staffed by physicians and nurses who are experts in stroke recovery.
  
  
• Multidisciplinary staffing. Stroke care is complex. Having many professional points of view ensures that all aspects of a patient's progress are being considered. Our team meets several times a week to review each patient's progress. Members include neurologists; case managers; nurses; speech, physical and occupational therapists; chaplains; discharge planners; and dietitians.
  
  
• Carefully planned care. Every step of a stroke patient's care is outlined to ensure that patients receive the treatments and tests they need at the right time. This helps prevent delays and oversights that can lengthen the hospital stay. This is important because research has proven that once stroke patients are stable, the sooner they leave the hospital, the better their long-term recovery will be. The plan of care may include:
  
  
• Medication to limit damage from the stroke.
  
  
• Additional tests to make sure the stroke has been stopped.
  
  
• Neurosurgery or interventional neuroradiology if needed.
  
  
• A swallow study to determine whether the patient can safely eat and drink.
  
  
• Early assessment by physical and occupational therapists to help patients regain skills they need for living. This may include help with eating and self-care, and planning to make the home safe and comfortable.
  
  
• Speech therapy if needed.
  
  
• Counseling of patient and family with chaplains and discharge planners to address the practical, emotional and spiritual impact of a serious illness.
  
  
• Standing and walking as soon as the patient can, to encourage recovery and retain strength.
  
  
• Family involvement. We understand how important loved ones are to the patient. They are included in care and planning, so when patients leave the hospital the patient and family understand stroke and know what they need to do to achieve the fullest possible recovery.
  
  
• Use of the latest treatments. Many of our physicians are involved in national and regional studies to determine which new treatments for stroke are the most effective. Because physicians on our medical staff are involved in these clinical trials for stroke care, our patients have access to the latest drug interventions and treatments, many of which are available in only a few other medical centers.

We work closely with Thoms Rehabilitation Hospital, Community Care Partners, skilled care providers, local agencies and the local Stroke Community Path Group to make sure that patients receive carefully coordinated, uninterrupted treatment after they leave Mission's Stroke Center. This "Continuum of Care" is critical to making sure patients have the best recovery possible.