Rapid response and comprehensive stroke treatment
At Penn Medicine, stroke care is a collaborative effort that often starts before patients reach the hospital. Emergency responders are trained to begin life-saving treatments in the ambulance and notify hospital staff in advance, ensuring they’re prepared to provide immediate care. Rapid intervention can significantly reduce or even reverse stroke damage.
Stroke treatment and rehabilitation are complex, requiring a specialized team. Our expert neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists, vascular neurosurgeons, cardiologists, interventional neuroradiologists, psychiatrists, nurses, care managers, and rehab specialists work closely to create customized care plans for each patient.
Certified stroke centers
The Penn Stroke Centers are committed to being leaders providing a high-quality, safe stroke care. Our team includes highly skilled neurologists, neurosurgeons, and emergency medicine providers who work together to administer excellent patient care and improve recovery. Our hospitals are recognized by both The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations for leading stroke care and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Get With The Guidelines® for stroke care.
- The Penn Stroke Center at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania is certified by The Joint Commission as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, recognized for evaluating and evolving the care our patients receive. This is the highest level of certification for hospitals with specific abilities to receive and treat the most complex stroke cases. We are certified by the American Heart Association as Stroke Gold Plus Achievement and Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus and Advanced Therapy.
- Lancaster General Hospital is certified by The Joint Commission as a Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center, recognized for meeting rigorous standards for performing endovascular thrombectomy and providing post-procedural care. It’s the only hospital in Lancaster County with this advanced stroke certification. In addition, we are certified by the American Heart Association as Stroke Gold Plus Achievement and Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus
Our other Joint Commission-Certified Primary Stroke Centers are:
Why does being a comprehensive stroke center matter?
Joint Commission-certified Comprehensive Stroke Centers are required to have:
- A dedicated neurocritical care unit
- A high volume of stroke cases
- A system that optimizes the benefits of carotid artery procedures
- Advanced resources for the acute treatment of stroke patients available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Advanced neurodiagnostic tools
- Advanced practice nurses
- Certified vascular neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, and vascular surgeons
- Participation in stroke research
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
The Penn Stroke Center at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania has been named a Comprehensive Stroke Center by The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. It was the first hospital in Philadelphia to receive this certification. This level of certification recognizes the significant resources in staff and training that comprehensive stroke centers must have 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to treat complex stroke cases.
Stroke education
Our goal is to educate every patient and their family about strokes. We provide educational materials during their hospital stay, covering essential topics such as:
- When to call Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
- The importance of follow-up care after leaving the hospital
- Understanding new medications
- Recognizing symptoms and warning signs of a stroke
By providing post-stroke care, we aim to help them understand their condition, manage new medications, and take steps to prevent future strokes.
Door to puncture
For ischemic stroke patients needing mechanical thrombectomy, "door-to-puncture" is the time from when they arrive at the hospital to when a vein artery in the groin or wrist is accessed for treatment. The quicker this happens, the better the chances for recovery. Efficient stroke care, streamlined protocols, and smooth transitions to the operating room—along with strong coordination with other hospitals—all help ensure timely treatment.
TICI scores
The high percentage of ischemic stroke patients who receive mechanical thrombectomy indicates how effectively we can remove clots and restore blood flow. Our skilled team often unblocks blood vessels within 120 minutes, which significantly improves recovery and outcomes.
Door to recanalization
When a patient arrives at the hospital, our goal is to restore blood flow to the brain as quickly as possible. This process, called recanalization, happens through a surgical procedure known as mechanical thrombectomy. Research shows that patients who receive this treatment within 90 minutes have a better chance of making a successful recovery. By getting patients into the operating room quickly, we can improve their chances of recovery and overall outcomes.
Implementing the highest Joint Commission standards
The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania’s certification as a Comprehensive Stroke Center is evidence of our success in implementing the highest Joint Commission standards required to provide complex stroke care, according to nationally accepted standards and guidelines. We take this responsibility seriously and publicly report our quality outcomes. We encourage you to look at these outcomes, which reflect how well we take care of our patients and demonstrate our ongoing commitment to delivering highly effective care—every time.
- The Comprehensive Stroke Center at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania completes carotid endarterectomy and carotid stents. The aggregate complication rate of those who are asymptomatic is 0.00% for the years 2021-2023.
- Two faculty members have received the American Academy of Neurology Michael Pessin Stroke Leadership Award. This prestigious national award recognizes neurologists who have demonstrated a passion for learning and expanding the field of stroke research.
Rehabilitation and support for stroke patients
Stroke rehabilitation is available on an inpatient, outpatient, or at-home basis, and may include:
- Physical therapy to increase strength, coordination, and motor skills
- Speech therapy to regain speech and swallowing abilities and learn food preparation techniques
- Occupational therapy to help relearning daily skills like walking, dressing, and driving