Ascension Saint Thomas

Advanced stroke care in Nashville

Neurologists at Ascension Saint Thomas in Middle Tennessee, deliver emergency stroke care and rehabilitation to help you recover after a stroke.
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At Ascension Saint Thomas, care teams in our emergency rooms and stroke centers help identify early signs of stroke and provide immediate care. Signs of a stroke include sudden loss of balance, lost or unclear vision, face drooping or uneven smile, arm weakness and speech difficulty. Stroke care teams provide 24/7 emergency stroke care and deliver treatments to help prevent long-term damage to your brain and body. Using advanced imaging and treatments, our care team helps to quickly identify stroke, improve blood flow to the brain, minimize brain damage, and help prevent future strokes.

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.

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.

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Certified Stroke Centers

Certification is an organization's commitment to continuous performance improvement, providing high quality patient care and reducing risks. Stroke Certification has three main components: standards, clinical practice guidelines, and performance measurement. This structure provides a framework for consistency of care to improve patient outcomes. Ascension Saint Thomas has 3 certified stroke centers to meet the needs of the communities we serve.

Comprehensive Stroke Center

Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital West is a Comprehensive Stroke Center certified by The Joint Commission*, a national healthcare accreditation organization. Comprehensive Stroke Centers deliver advanced stroke care for even the most complex cases. This level of certification recognizes the significant differences in resources, staff and training that are necessary for the treatment of complex stroke cases. This highly specialized stroke care helps support better outcomes at a time when you need it most.

Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital West

Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center

Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford is certified as a Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center by The Joint Commission. The Joint Commission’s Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center Certification recognizes centers that perform endovascular thrombectomy procedures. The Joint Commission in collaboration with the AHA/ASA offers this advanced stroke certification in response to the need to identify hospitals that meet rigorous standards for performing endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) and providing post-procedural care.

Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford

Advanced Primary Stroke Centers

Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown is certified as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission. The Joint Commission’s Primary Stroke Center certification recognizes centers that make exceptional efforts to foster better outcomes for stroke care. Achievement of certification signifies that the services you provide have the critical elements to achieve long-term success in improving outcomes. It is the best signal to your community that the quality care you provide is effectively managed to meet the unique and specialized needs of stroke patients.

Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown

Our neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, neuro-intensivists and rehabilitation specialists work together to deliver personalized, multi-specialty care. Learn more about our certified stroke centers.

*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.

Telestroke network

Ascension Saint Thomas neurologists are dedicated to delivering advanced stroke care to those across Tennessee. Through our telestroke program, our neurologists work with doctors at rural 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, bringing a high level of care to those in rural areas that may not have a staff neurologist on call. This rapid access to a neurologist who specializes in stroke care helps save lives and minimize the physical damage caused by a stroke.

Stroke recovery and rehabilitation

Our neurologists and care teams at Ascension Saint Thomas specialize in stroke care and recovery. Your care team of doctors, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists work together to deliver the care that's right for you.

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

Watch educational videos

Dr. Frank Lafranchise shares information on signs to look for when having a stroke, knowing your risk for stroke, and how to reduce stroke risk.