Immediate medical attention for a stroke matters. And so does easy access to advanced care—especially for complex strokes. NorthShore’s Evanston Hospital is certified as a Comprehensive Stroke Center by the Joint Commission, a well-respected organization that sets the highest standards of care delivery for healthcare providers in the United States and worldwide.
Not all strokes are the same. Blockage of the blood vessels of the brain can cause ischemic strokes, and bleeding from the blood vessels can lead to hemorrhagic strokes. Large vessel occlusions are ischemic strokes that occur from blockage in one of the major arteries of the brain. Considered severe and life-threatening, these strokes require the highest level of medical expertise for the best outcomes. As a Comprehensive Stroke Center, Evanston Hospital provides the most advanced technology, accessibility and expertise to treat the most complex stroke. Our CSC designation means that our dedicated multidisciplinary stroke program features:
- State-of-the-art diagnostic imaging technology and capabilities
- Cutting-edge endovascular and neurosurgical procedures
- Fellowship-trained stroke neurologists and neurosurgeons
- 24/7 accessibility to advanced stroke services
- Expertise treating complex strokes and other serious cerebrovascular conditions like aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations and carotid artery disease
Additionally, three of our NorthShore hospitals (Glenbrook, Highland Park and Swedish) have earned Joint Commission accreditation as Primary Stroke Centers. They are recognized for following the best practices for stroke care and meeting the stringent performance measures of the nation’s premier accrediting group. Our Primary Stroke Centers and others in Chicago area rely on Evanston Hospital’s Comprehensive Stroke Center—the only one in our emergency medical services or EMS region—as a critical resource for the referral and treatment of patients with complex strokes or other cerebrovascular diseases.
The Joint Commission’s certifications of our stroke programs ensure you receive high-quality stroke care when and where you need it throughout the NorthShore system.
Rapid System of Stroke Care
Every minute counts during a stroke. In 60 seconds, as many as three million neurons can die s blood flow to the brain is disrupted. Reducing the critical window of time to treatment is our goal for every patient experiencing or a stroke. We do this by:
Building trusting relationships with local EMS—to ensurethe rapid and efficient transfer of patients to the best hospital for their emergency stroke care
Training EMS, emergency medicine and acute stroke teams—to recognize the signs and symptoms of a high-risk complex stroke in the field, in the emergency room and/or in the hospital
Providing rapid diagnosis and treatment via telestroke —for the remote assessment of stroke patients by our advanced stroke specialists in any one of NorthShore’s hospital emergency departments
Using innovative technology, including AI-driven imaging algorithms—to more quickly and accurately interpret imaging tests such as CT scans and CT angiograms to speed up the diagnosis and treatment of your stroke
Providing the most up to date treatments for severe stroke – through the use of clot-busting medications and mechanical thrombectomy for patients undergoing ischemic strokes and through the use of novel endovascular and microsurgical techniques for patients with hemorrhagic strokes stemming from diseases of the brain’s blood vessels.
Collecting stroke outcomes data—to guide the continuous improvement of our practices and performance in delivering stroke care
NorthShore’s Comprehensive Stroke Center at Evanston Hospital is one of a select group of hospitals in the country to achieve this level of excellence. This national recognition is just another example of our commitment to providing our patients with the best stroke and cerebrovascular care to meet every need.
For More Information
If you have questions about NorthShore’s cerebrovascular/stroke services or would like to make an appointment, please call 847.570.2570.