Stroke

The Lawrence + Memorial Stroke Center offers a specialized program committed to providing rapid, advanced and compassionate neurological care to patients with stroke.

Available 24 hours a day, the Stroke Center’s specially trained team includes neurologists, emergency medicine physicians, radiologists, nurses, clinical pharmacists, emergency medical technicians, rehabilitation therapists, speech pathologists and others.

Lawrence +Memorial Hospital is certified as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission.

This recognizes the high level of care we provide for stroke patients and their families.

Our Stroke Center uses a comprehensive approach emphasizing rapid evaluation and treatment of stroke as well as patient education toward improving the outcome and quality of life for stroke patients.

This approach includes care provided by L+M staff working with Yale New Haven Hospital’s TeleStroke program. A Yale New Haven neurologist provides remote neurologic expertise when L+M patients present with acute stroke symptoms and are deemed eligible for intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), a clot-busting drug; or interventional procedures.

L+M offers the only Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation program in Eastern Connecticut. The unit is certified by the Commission of Accrediting Rehabilitation Facilities and provides physical, occupational and speech therapies, as well as support and community education services. During hospitalization, physiatrists (physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians) and rehabilitation therapists meet with patients to assess needs and recommend services that benefit patients once discharged from the hospital.

Types of stroke

Ischemic Stroke - 87 percent of all strokes are ischemic, caused by a blood clot. Many of these strokes can be treated effectively with clot-busting drugs, provided the patient arrives at the emergency department as soon as symptoms are recognized.

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) can be a prelude to a full-blown stroke. Studies show patients have a 15 percent risk of experiencing a major stroke within days after a TIA. Never ignore TIA symptoms, which can be temporary or fleeting. Early detection can lead to immediate diagnosis and treatment.

Hemorrhagic Stroke - This is caused by weakened vessels that rupture and bleed into the brain. Hemorrhagic stroke requires specialized medical or surgical interventions.