Primary Stroke Center

Primary Stroke Center in Encino

Medical Treatments from a Certified Team That Really Cares

Encino Hospital Medical Center is proud to be recognized and certified by The Joint Commission as a Primary Stroke Center that has met or exceeded utmost standards of quality patient care. We have also been granted the prestigious Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award from the American Heart Association / American Stroke Association’s “Get With the Guidelines®” (GWTG) program and the GWTG Target: Stroke Honor Roll. What does all of this mean for our patients? Encino Hospital Medical Center is capable of delivering some of the absolute best stroke care in the country and without unnecessary delays.

Stroke Patients Have No Time to Lose

In order to have the best chance possible at preventing permanent health conditions associated with a stroke, patients need to be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. At Encino Hospital Medical Center, our entire team of medical professionals – from clerks to doctors – has become proficient in balancing urgency with carefulness, allowing us to rapidly respond to stroke patients without jeopardizing the care they need and receive. A neurologist plays a key role in recognizing stroke complications and directing appropriate treatments, so we keep one staffed 24/7/365. It is all part of how our primary stroke center goes above and beyond to help and stay connected with our patients, starting from emergency intake all the way to the final days of rehabilitative sessions.

Getting You Back On Your Feet with Rehabilitation

Patients who have suffered a stroke need emergency medical attention as well as ongoing care and comfort. We have established a specialized team – the Encino Hospital Acute Rehabilitation Unit – to be there for our stroke patients after all initial treatments are completed. Dedication to getting people back on their feet, oftentimes literally, and able to function on their own again is their top priority. Each patient is given personalized and customized rehabilitative sessions, ensuring effectiveness and efficiency in the rehabilitation they receive.

Patient Corner

What is a stroke?

When a blood vessel leading to the brain becomes blocked, often by a clot or a rupture in the artery, it can trigger a stroke. Technically, a stroke occurs when brain cells begin to die due to a lack of oxygen and nutrients. According to American Heart Association / American Stroke Association data, a stroke is suffered by an American every 40 seconds and 10% of strokes will be fatal. Around 800,000 people will suffer a stroke each year, placing strokes as the fifth leading cause of death in the country.

Are there telltale warning signs of a stroke?

You can identify if someone is having a stroke by using the FAST warning system. If someone shows any of the FAST system symptoms, please call 911 immediately and instruct the dispatcher that you believe they are suffering a stroke.

The FAST system is:

  • Face: See if the person can smile and, if so, check to see if one side of the face droops.
  • Arms: Can the person raise both arms without feeling weakness? Does one arm start to drift down involuntarily?
  • Speech: Tell the person to say something simple, like reciting their name. Listen for slurred speech.
  • Time: If you notice facial drooping, arm weakness, and/or slurred speech, call 911 - there is no time to spare.

What are the causes and risk factors of stroke?

Data concludes that anyone can suffer a stroke, regardless of age or overall health. However, the chances of suffering a stroke can be increased by several factors.

You might have an increased chance of stroke if you have:

  • Suffered a heart attack of stroke in the past
  • Your family members have had strokes or heart attacks
  • Elevated blood pressure
  • Diabetes
  • High cholesterol levels
  • Problems with blood circulation
  • Atrial fibrillation
  • Smoking habits or addiction
  • Little to no regular exercise

The National Stroke Association® explains these factors in detail here.

At Encino Hospital Medical Center, we want every stroke patient and their families to know that we genuinely care about your health, wellbeing, and future comfort. Since our Approved Primary Stroke Care Center rating in 2016, we have become the first choice in destinations for emergency medical transport service providers throughout the San Fernando Valley who need to take stroke patients to a clinic as soon as possible. We are proud to be rated Gold Plus by the American Heart Association / American Stroke Association for the second consecutive year and intend to do everything possible to continue this tradition of excellence. Through our dedication to precise and timely treatments and our comprehensive understanding of advanced medical techniques, equipment, and medicines – including the clot-buster tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) – we have been able to save and restore patient lives. For our team of Encino medical professionals, there is no greater feeling in the world.