Stroke treatment

Neurologists and neurosurgeons at Ascension Medical Group in Northwest Florida deliver stroke care and rehabilitation to help you recover after a stroke.

Advanced stroke care in Pensacola

Neurologists and neurosurgeons at Ascension Medical Group in Northwest Florida deliver stroke care and rehabilitation to help you recover after a stroke.

  • CALL - 850-416-2554

Why choose Ascension Sacred Heart for stroke treatment

If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of a stroke, every second counts. Signs of a stroke include:

  • Sudden loss of balance
  • Lost or unclear vision
  • Face drooping or uneven smile
  • Arm weakness
  • Difficulty speaking

Ascension Sacred Heart is Northwest Florida’s leader in stroke care. Our team includes board-certified neurologists and neurosurgeons, as well as endovascular neurosurgeon, Maria Toledo, MD, and interventional neuroradiologist, Nathan Kohler, MD.

With specialists in stroke and transient ischemic attacks (TIA), we quickly work together to help improve blood flow, stop brain bleeds, and help prevent a future stroke.

Sacred Heart is a Primary Stroke Center, certified by the Joint Commission

Northwest Florida’s only certified Comprehensive Stroke Center

Getting the right care for stroke can be life-saving. The Ascension Sacred Heart Comprehensive Stroke Center is in the top 10% of stroke programs in the nation. And, we have a “Gold-Plus” rating by the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association. This means we have the expertise and technology to care for the most complex stroke cases.

As the only hospital in Northwest Florida designated as a Comprehensive Stroke Center by the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration and by DNV Healthcare, we are a regional leader in stroke care. Designations are awarded for excellence in the education, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of stroke.

The Comprehensive Stroke Center is directed by Terry Neill, MD, a board-certified critical care neurologist. The Stroke Center has endovascular neurosurgeons who can perform the latest minimally-invasive techniques used to diagnose and treat brain aneurysms, brain hemorrhages, and blockages that may cause ischemic strokes. We work together to provide advanced stroke care, when you need it the most.

Telehealth stroke care

By answering these questions, you can start to better understand your risk:

  • Are you over 65?
  • Do you have a family history of stroke?
  • Do you smoke?
  • Have you had a prior stroke or heart attack?
  • Do you have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, peripheral artery disease, AFib, heart valve disease or sickle cell anemia?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, it may be important for you to talk to your primary care doctor about your risk for stroke.

Find a primary care doctor

Neurologists at Ascension Sacred Heart deliver advanced stroke care throughout Northwest Florida. With our telehealth stroke program, we work with doctors at locations across the state. Our stroke specialists provide remote examinations, recommend diagnostic tests and discuss treatment decisions with you and your care team.

This service is available 24/7 and brings a high level of care to those in areas that may not have a staff neurologist on call. Rapid access to a neurologist can help save lives and minimize the physical damage caused by a stroke.

If you or a loved one are experiencing warning signs of a stroke — sudden loss of balance, lost or unclear vision, face drooping or uneven smile, arm weakness and speech difficulty — every second counts. Call 911 and go to the nearest ER.

Helping you manage stroke recovery and rehabilitation

Neurologists and care teams at Ascension Sacred Heart specialize in stroke care and recovery. We listen to understand you and your health concerns. Then, your doctors, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists work with you to create a care plan that's right for you. Our rehabilitation care team provides daily therapies and monitors your progress to help you meet your goals.

Your care doesn't stop when you leave the hospital. We can connect you to transitional care in your home, an outpatient stroke rehabilitation center or skilled nursing facility. Our goal is to improve your quality of life after a stroke.

Frequently asked questions about stroke

A stroke occurs when there is a disruption in the blood supply to the brain. This disruption can come from a blocked blood vessel in the brain or a blood vessel that ruptures and bleeds into the brain. When you are experiencing a stroke — every second counts. Call 911 and go to the nearest ER.

Stroke symptoms can come on suddenly. Call 911 and go to the nearest ER if you experience any of the following symptoms:

  • Sudden loss of balance
  • Lost or unclear vision
  • Face drooping or uneven smile
  • Arm weakness
  • Speech difficulty

If you think someone is having a stroke, ask them to repeat a sentence back to you, smile at you, and raise both arms. If they have trouble with any of these tasks, call 911 right away. Stay with the person and note the time they began to have symptoms. This information can help the emergency room care team.

The sooner you get to the ER, the more options there may be for treatment. Medications and minimally invasive stroke interventions help prevent clots and dissolve blockages to restore blood flow to the brain. Endovascular procedures are used to repair or prevent a blood vessel from rupturing. Your doctors, nurses, and rehabilitation therapists help you recover after a stroke and help prevent a future stroke.

Get a second opinion

If you have questions about your diagnosis or treatment plan, a second opinion can help you better understand your options. Our specialists can review your medical records and history to provide an additional perspective. Before your appointment, check with your insurance provider to find out if a second opinion is covered. We can request your medical records from your doctor on your behalf so they can be shared before your visit.

FIND A NEUROLOGIST

Providers: Refer a patient

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Referring your patients is simple and hassle-free. Send your patient’s medical records, and we'll take it from there — keeping you in the loop throughout the process  while ensuring your patient gets the advanced care they need.

CALL - 850-416-2554

If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, go directly to the ER or call 911.

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