Stroke Program at UPMC Northwest

Having heart disease increases your chances of having a stroke, so it’s important to control the risk factors:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Obesity
• Physical inactivity
• Smoking

Strokes require immediate medical attention, so knowing the warning signs is crucial. Stroke symptoms can include sudden onset of:

• Paralysis or weakness in the face or limbs, especially on one side of the body
• Problems with balance or walking
• Vision problems
• Slurred speech
• Confusion
• Problems speaking or understanding
• Severe headache

UPMC Northwest’s stroke program was named an Advanced Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission, and is the region’s only facility to earn that designation.

The hospital also received a Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Performance Achievement Award from the American Heart Association (AHA)/American Stroke Association (ASA) in 2009, 2010, and 2011, and met the criteria for the AHA/ASA Target: Stroke Honor Roll in 2011 .

UPMC Stroke Telemedicine Program

Physicians at UPMC Northwest have 24-hour-a-day access to specialists at the UPMC Stroke Institute in Pittsburgh in order to bring a higher level of stroke treatment and care to their patients. Real-time telemedicine consultations are provided in several other specialties as well.

• UPMC Northwest Teleconsult Patient Information