Stroke
A stroke is a medical emergency where blood flow to the brain is either reduced or stopped, depriving brain tissue of essential oxygen and nutrients. A stroke may cause loss in brain function and affect movement and speech.
Stroke Center in Hermitage, Tennessee
If you are having a stroke, our emergency physicians offer you swift, effective diagnosis and treatments.
When it comes to stroke treatment, time is of the essence. At TriStar Summit Medical Center, the team of skilled stroke specialists and neurosurgeons in our emergency room (ER) know how to efficiently identify the signs of a stroke. They are then trained and equipped to provide lifesaving treatment. Following initial treatment, our care team is here to answer all of your questions with patience and respect.
Need a physician referral?
TriStar MedLine can help. We are available by phone Monday through Friday from 7:00am to 7:00pm CST.
TriStar MedLine can help. We are available by phone Monday through Friday from 7:00am to 7:00pm CST.
Related specialties
Learn more about our related specialties.
Types of strokes we treat
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is blocked suddenly or an artery starts to bleed. There are three types of strokes:
- Ischemic stroke
- Hemorrhagic stroke
- Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
Stroke treatments we offer
From emergency care to telemedicine to rehabilitation, our stroke care program will see you or your loved one through every phase of healing.
Emergency stroke services
Our ER doctors provide comprehensive stroke treatment, including interventional neurosurgery. Using the latest advancements in telemedicine, we can quickly treat you in our Primary Stroke Center, certified by The Joint Commission.
24-7 telehealth stroke services
As part of the TriStar Health family of hospitals, we give you access to the region's largest telemedicine network. Telemedicine allows immediate access to acute stroke care — especially in communities where neurologists are not on-call 24/7. Within seconds of a request for a consultation, a physician can position the telemedicine robot at a patient's bedside and connect to a neurologist specializing in stroke care.
The robot provides two-way audio and video communication and allows access to many remote presence devices, such as an electronic stethoscope. The neurologist can remotely examine a patient's ability to move and speak, and they can even zoom in to allow for a complete exam.
Stroke rehabilitation services
After a stroke, it can be difficult to return to your day-to-day activities. Our rehabilitation program incorporates occupational, speech and physical therapy to help you overcome the effects of a stroke. Our inpatient rehabilitation program has 20 private rooms, 24/7 medical care and a team of board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians.
TriStar Summit Medical Center stroke outcomes
| Measure | TriStar Summit Medical Center | Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Percent of ischemic stroke patients receiving intravenous (IV) thrombolytic therapy during hospital stay who have a time from hospital arrival to initiation of thrombolytic therapy administration (door-to-needle) of 60 min or less. | 100% | 86.3% All Get With the Guidelines (GWTG) hospitals. |
| Rapid treatment with IV thrombolytics has been demonstrated to improve recovery after a stroke and assist in decreasing long term disability from an ischemic stroke. | Median Door-to-IV thrombolytics: 35 minutes | American Heart Association Goal: Door-to-IV-thrombolytics is 60 minutes or less. |
| EVT mechanical thrombectomy treatment helps to retrieve large vessel occlusions and decrease the potential penumbra area to assist in decreased patient deficits. | Median Door-to- puncture site is: 107 minutes | Joint Commission Standard: is for Door -to- puncture site of 90 minutes or less with a Door-to-Reperfusion time of 120 minutes. |
Stroke signs and risk factors
Knowing the signs of a stroke or that you are at an increased risk can be the first step toward getting the right care at the right time.
Differences between types of strokes
When the blood supply to the brain is blocked, this results in brain cells that die. Our goal is to provide stroke care as quickly as possible to minimize the amount of damage to the brain. Treatment will depend on what type of stroke your loved one is experiencing.
- Ischemic stroke — when an artery that supplies blood to the brain becomes narrowed or blocked
- Hemorrhagic stroke — when an artery starts to bleed into the brain
- Transient ischemic attack (TIA) — when blood flow to the brain is partially blocked for a few minutes
Signs of a stroke
It is crucial that you are familiar with the symptoms of a stroke so you can act quickly and seek emergency care. Symptoms of a stroke often occur suddenly and can include:
- An intense headache
- Confusion or trouble speaking
- Difficulty seeing in one or both eyes
- Loss of balance or dizziness
- Numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
Stroke risk factors
Although some risk factors, such as age and family history, cannot be changed, there are ways you can reduce your risk for having a stroke. Modifiable risk factors include:
- Excessive alcohol use or drug abuse
- Heart or carotid artery disease
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Obesity and/or physical inactivity
- Tobacco use
- Uncontrolled diabetes
- Unhealthy diet
If you have any of these risk factors, talk to your doctor about ways to minimize or eliminate them.
Looking for a location?
Our Stroke Locations
Thrive Blog
Read our blogs to learn about preventive care and ways you can lead a healthier lifestyle.