Stroke Care
At the first sign of stroke, you need experts who can promptly diagnose and treat. The experienced neurologists at California Hospital Medical Center provide coordinated response and specialized stroke services 24 hours a day.
Not all hospitals are prepared to treat stroke. Our Stroke Center has earned the Gold Seal of Approval from The Joint Commission, certifying California Hospital as a "Primary Stroke Center" as well as the Get With The Guidelines - Stroke Gold Plus Target: Stroke Elite Plus Honor Roll award from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.
According to the AHA, stroke is one of the leading causes of death and serious, long-term disability in the United States. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every four minutes; and 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.
Recognizing the first warning signs of stroke and getting expert medical help quickly is critical for successful treatment and recovery. California Hospital has a trained stroke team that provides prompt diagnosis and treatment. Experienced neurologists and other clinical experts lead the team.
California Hospital is proud to be one of Los Angeles County’s hospitals designated as a primary stroke center. Dr. Antonio Liu, California Hospital’s Stroke Program Medical Director, has advanced training in neurology and stroke care. Cathy Van, RN Stroke Program Coordinator, in collaboration with multidisciplinary team follows the progress of every patient, reviews each plan of care, provides recommendations using evidence-based guidelines, and provides consultation for care at home -- excellent short-term and long-term rehabilitation services.
For more information, please contact Cathy Van, RN Stroke Program Coordinator at 213.742.5505.
Know the Signs and Symptoms of Stroke
F.A.S.T. is an easy way to remember the sudden signs of stroke. When you can spot the signs, you'll know that you need to call 911 for help right away. F.A.S.T. is:
FACE: Face Drooping– Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven?
ARMS: Arm Weakness– Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
SPEECH: Speech Difficulty– Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like "The sky is blue." Is the sentence repeated correctly?
TIME: Time to call 911– If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 911 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so you'll know when the first symptoms appeared.
Learn More About Stroke Care
For a Physician Referral, call 888.742.2462 or use our online feature, Find a Doctor.