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Certified Comprehensive Stroke Center

It takes a brain to save a mind.

Let our experts give your mind the tools to help save another.

 

Certified Comprehensive Stroke Center

When every second counts, you can be assured that at Dignity Health St. John’s Regional Medical Center, our experts focus on the rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke.

As a Certified Comprehensive Stroke Center, our team is committed to improving stroke outcomes through a multifaceted approach of prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration into the community. Our team works together to deliver exceptional care with a warm, personalized approach.

 

"Achieving this prestigious certification is a testament to St. John's commitment to treating stroke patients in our communities with the highest-quality care and a distinguished level of excellence," says Dr. Akinwunmi Oni-Orisan, Medical Director of Neurointerventional Surgery, St. John's Hospitals. "Our entire team, consisting of physicians, nurses, therapists and ancillary staff, plays an integral role in ensuring the greatest possible outcomes for our stroke patients, and I could not be more proud of this well-deserved honor."

What is Stroke?

A stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery or when a blood vessel breaks and stops blood flow to an area of the brain. When either of these things happen, brain cells begin to die, causing damage to the brain. Every stroke is different and the severity is largely dependent upon the area of the brain affected and the length of time that area was without oxygen.

Types of Stroke

There are three types of stroke:

  • Ischemic strokes are the most common type. They are caused when blood vessels leading to the brain become blocked, preventing oxygen from reaching the brain.
  • Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) are indicators of a high risk for stroke. In a TIA, the blood clot occurs for a short time and resolves itself. Although TIAs are temporary, they are strong indicators of a possible major stroke.
  • Hemorrhagic strokes occur when blood vessels in or around the brain break.

Signs of Stroke: B-E F-A-S-T

Learn the signs of stroke so you are ready if you or a loved one ever suffers a stroke and always call 9-1-1 immediately. The difference between a recovery from stroke and a lasting disability depends a lot on response time.

  • Balance: Does the person have a loss of balance or dizziness? Watch for sudden loss of balance or dizziness.
  • Eyes: Has the person lost vision on one or both sides? Check for vision loss.
  • Face: Does one side of the face droop? Ask them to smile. 
  • Arms: Does one arm drift downward? Ask them to raise both arms. 
  • Speech: Are words slurred? Ask them to repeat a phrase. 
  • Time: If they show any of these symptoms, time is important. 

Our Services

  • Immediate access to neurologists specializing in stroke care within minutes of arrival in our ER
  • Neurosurgeons, neurointerventionalists, neurocritical care specialists, neuroradiologists, and anesthesiologists
  • Dedicated stroke nurse practitioners
  • An acute stroke team
  • Faster turnaround times for CT scans and lab results to improve timeliness of treatment
  • Advanced imaging capabilities including 3-Tesla MRI, CT perfusion, and RAPID software
  • Staff receive special training to care for stroke patients
  • Inpatient Acute Rehabilitation Program

Certified Comprehensive Stroke Center

The DNV has awarded an advanced stroke certification for Certified Comprehensive Stroke Center (CSC) to St. John’s Regional Medical Center. This means that our Stroke Center has delivered the highest quality of care to the most complex cases, offering evidence based treatments with cutting edge research protocols.

As a CSC, we treat patients, suffering hemorrhagic or large ischemic strokes, with follow up care in an intensive care unit. St. John's also functions as a resource center for other facilities in their area, offering guidance and consultation for triage of patients, providing expertise about managing particular cases, making diagnostic tests or treatments available to patients, treated initially at a PSC or an ASR facility, and being an educational resource for other hospitals. Our community can be assured that the quality care we provide is effectively managed to meet the unique and specialized needs of stroke patients.

Top Rated Stroke Care

The Stroke Center is nationally recognized for excellence:

  • Get With the Guidelines® - Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award, American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, 2017-2023
    • Recognized on the Target: Stroke Elite Honor Roll, American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, 2017-2021
    • Recognized on the Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll, American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, 2020-2023
    • Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award with Target: Stroke Honor Roll from American Heart Association and American Stroke Association, 2016
    • Stroke Care Excellence Award, 2014–2017
    • Stroke Silver Plus Quality Achievement Award with Target: Stroke Honor Roll from American Heart Association and American Stroke Association, 2016
  • U.S. News & World Report named St. John's a High Performing Hospital for Stroke, 2023-24
  • Mission: Lifeline® - STEMI Receiving Center - GOLD PLUS Achievement Award presented by the American Heart Association, 2021

Additionally, St. John’s Regional Medical Center is accredited by the DNV as a Comprehensive Stoke Center (CSC).
 

arrival to treatment

Arrival to treatment

The arrival to treatment time with thrombolytic therapy at St. John's Regional Medical Center is less that or equal to 60 minutes 100% of the time, compared to the Califoria hosiptal average of 91% (January – June 2023)

treatment rate

Treatment Rate

Percentage of patients diagnosed with Acute Ischemic Stroke that were treated with Thrombolytic Therapy is 14% as compared to the California hospital average of 12% (January – June 2023)

favorable outcomes

Favorable Outcome

The percentage of ischemic stroke patients treated with thrombolytics or undergo mechanical reperfusion therapy have positive results at 90 days is 59% as compared to the California hospital average of 46% (January – June 2023)

endovascular recanalization

Endovascular Recanalization for Acute Ischemic Stroke

For St. John's Regional Hospital, Substantial Reperfusion (TICI 2b-3) is 93% as compared to 88%;  discharge to home or acute rehab is 60%, equaling all California hospitals (January- June 2023)

carotid information

Carotid information

Carotid Artery Stenting complication rate is 0% (April 2022-March 2023). Carotid Endarterectomy complication rate is 0% (April 2022-March 2023)

Rehabilitation

St. John’s Inpatient Rehabilitation Center is the beginning of the recovery phase for adults who have experienced a stroke. In this recovery phase, patients are assisted with restoring their maximum levels of strength, movement, and independent functioning. Patients and their families actively participate in planning and implementing a comprehensive treatment plan in which specific goals are established.  To learn more about St. John’s comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation services, please call (805) 988-2667.

Read our Stroke Guide

The teams at St. John’s Regional Medical Center and St. John’s Hospital Camarillo are here to help you before, during and after stroke. Download our comprehensive stroke guides for more information.

Learn more about our Stroke Program

To request additional information about St. John's Regional Medical Center's Stroke Program, please call our dedicated stroke nurse at (805) 988-7144 (Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.).