Advanced Primary Stroke Center

Cabell Huntington Hospital's Advanced Primary Stroke Center is a multidisciplinary stroke program directed by Dr. Justin Nolte, the only fellowship-trained stroke neurologist in the Tri-State. The hospital is home to one of only two accredited neurophysiology labs in West Virginia. The Advanced Primary Stroke Center has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval™ by demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission's national standards for healthcare quality and safety in disease-specific care.

The multidisciplinary team that provides care includes physicians, radiologists, pharmacists and nurses with specialized training in caring for stroke patients, as well as dietitians and physical, occupational and speech therapists who have been trained to meet the needs of stroke patients.The staff strives to continuously improve the quality of all services offered by following evidence-based guidelines and best practices.

The Stroke Center offers significant resources that allow collaboration with first responders to begin before patients who may have suffered a stroke arrive at the hospital, including:

• HealthNet Aeromedical Services: Eight strategically based not-for-profit aircrafts
• Critical Care Ground Transport System: Three specially designed and staffed transport vehicles
• Medical Command Center: Coordinates EMS operations in six counties
• Patient Transfer Center: Arranges patient transport and staffed by nurses trained in critical care

All of the nurses in the Emergency Department and the inpatient units that care for stroke patients are certified in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. Once they have been stabilized, stroke patients may be admitted to the Neuroscience Unit or the Intensive Care Unit. Stroke patients with cardiac problems may be admitted to the Cardiac Step-Down/Telemetry Unit for additional monitoring. If additional treatment becomes necessary, neurosurgeons and diagnostic and interventional radiologists are available around the clock to remove clots and provide stenting and other advanced surgical procedures. The staff uses patient and family-centered principles when explaining the patient's plan of care and facing the after-effects of the stroke.

About half of stroke patients are discharged to their homes, with some requiring additional services from Cabell Huntington's nationally recognized Home Health Department. Other patients are admitted to our Transitional Care Unit or a skilled nursing facility for additional care and rehabilitation services. Cabell Huntington Hospital's Rehabilitation Department offers inpatient and outpatient services that include physical, occupational and speech therapy and evaluation and treatment at the SMART Center or the Balance Center.

For more information about Cabell Huntington Hospital's Advanced Primary Stroke Center and the services offered, please call 304-526-6317.

• Last updated: 05/08/2013
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