Advanced stroke care in Tulsa

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 and difficulty speaking. Our Comprehensive Stroke Center and emergency rooms in Tulsa, Oklahoma, provide advanced stroke care 24/7. The neurologists and neurosurgeons specialize in treating stroke and transient ischemic attacks (TIA). We quickly work together to help improve blood flow to the brain, stop a brain bleed, and help prevent future strokes.

Comprehensive Stroke Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Ascension St. John Heyman Stroke Center is certified as a Comprehensive Stroke Center by The Joint Commission*. As a Comprehensive Stroke Center, we meet strict guidelines for quality, safety and education to help identify stroke and quickly provide care. Each year, our care team completes stroke education and consistently meets standards set by The Joint Commission.

Ascension St. John is the current recipient of the Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus and Get with the Guidelines Gold Plus Award from the American Stroke Association. This award recognizes hospitals with door-to-treatment times within 60 minutes for at least 75 percent of applicable patients and within 45 minutes for at least 50 percent of applicable patients. These are the most rigorous standards in stroke treatment.

Specialized stroke recovery and rehabilitation services

Care teams at Ascension St. John specialize in stroke care and recovery. We listen to understand you and your health. Then your team of neurologists, neurosurgeons, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists work with you to create a care plan that's right for you. Many of our therapists specialize in neurorehabilitation for stroke, with a focus on rebuilding your brain to body connection. 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 offer a stroke survivor and caregiver support group. And we provide 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 by assisting in functional recovery.

Frequently asked questions about stroke

How do I know if I'm having a stroke?

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

• Balance: sudden onset of dizziness or balance issues
• Eyes: double vision or loss of vision
• Face: asymmetrical weakness or drooping on one side of face
• Arm: one sided arm or leg weakness
• Speech: Listen for slurred speech
• Time: call 911 immediately

What is a 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.

What should I do if I think someone else is having a stroke?

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.

What is a mini-stroke, also called a transient ischemic attack (TIA)?

When someone experiences stroke symptoms that go away in a short period of time (typically less than an hour), it may be considered a TIA (transient ischemic attack.) When blood flow to the brain is interrupted for a short period (usually less than five minutes), it may be a sign of a future stroke. TIA is an emergency like stroke. If you experience signs of a stroke or TIA, don't wait to see if the symptoms go away. Call 911 and go to the nearest ER.

How is stroke treated?

The sooner you get to the ER, the more options there may be for treatment. Medications and minimally invasive stroke interventions help remove clots and dissolve blockages to restore blood flow to the brain for ischemic (non-bleeding) strokes. For certain hemorrhagic strokes (bleeding strokes), endovascular procedures are used to repair the blood vessel. Your doctors, nurses, and rehabilitation therapists help you recover after a stroke and help prevent a future stroke.

Ascension St. John community reports

The Ascension St. John Heyman Stroke Center has chosen to publicly report data submitted to The Joint Commission and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

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.

*The Joint Commission is an independent accrediting organization. This accrediting body sets standards in healthcare to improve healthcare quality and safety. This recognition reflects our experience and advanced care to help improve stroke recovery outcomes.