Stroke

Our patients receive rapid access to treatment by an expert team that includes vascular neurology, neurovascular surgery, neurocritical care, emergency medicine and other medical subspecialties, who work together to diagnose and determine the most appropriate stroke treatment for patients with stroke and other cerebrovascular disorders.

We follow best practices to try to preserve brain function and prevent serious injury or death, knowing that timely, effective treatment can make a significant difference in a better quality of life following recovery. Patient and family care is measured by a performance improvement process and reported publicly with other national programs. Being certified by The Joint Commission means that we provide stroke care 24-hours a day, seven days a week, and we have met the most stringent standards currently in use for stroke treatment.

Our inpatient services include a dedicated neuro-intensive care unit and a stroke service with a patient and family-centered approach to the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with cerebrovascular disease. We also employ a unique transition-of-care model using stroke nurse navigators, who provide expertise and assistance to patients, their family members and clinicians throughout hospitalization and after discharge. Their role includes educating patients and families and helping them deal with medical, practical and emotional aspects of stroke.

Specialized stroke clinics are available for community physician referrals, stroke consults and for primary and secondary stroke prevention. We also have a comprehensive multidisciplinary patent foramen ovale (PFO) program for adult patients at risk of a stroke or adults who have had a stroke due to a PFO or a paradoxical embolism via other abnormal connections.  

Learn about our Stroke Center performance and outcome measures

Through the use of video and image-sharing telecommunications, Yale New Haven Stroke Center provides remote neurologic expertise when patients present with acute stroke symptoms at numerous partner hospitals in Connecticut and Rhode Island.

By establishing a telemedicine link using videoconferencing and image sharing technology, stroke specialists from Yale New Haven can examine patients at remote hospitals miles away to help diagnose the patient's ailment and recommend a plan of care. One form of stroke treatment is to administer tPA, a clot busting drug that can greatly reduce the disability resulting from a stroke.

Unfortunately, some hospitals lack the resources to make this determination and cannot physically transfer the patient quickly enough to enable them to receive this therapy if warranted. TeleStroke can enable subscribing hospitals to provide expert acute stroke care for patients without physically transferring the patient to YNHH Stroke Center for diagnosis and treatment.

Telestroke programs throughout the country have demonstrated that telemedicine conferencing between outlying emergency departments and trained stroke neurologists can enhance the use of tPA at hospitals that do not have on-site neurologists 24/7.

Learn more about Telehealth Services

Physicians

As the destination center for acute care, Yale New Haven Hospital specialists are here to assist you in caring for your patients with complex acute, chronic or difficult-to-diagnose illnesses. Medical consultations and expedited transfer/admissions are available for adult and pediatric patients through our Y Access Transfer Center.