WakeMed Stroke Program Services

WakeMed provides quality care and support for stroke patients and their families.  For stroke patients to have the best outcomes possible, patients need to get care within the first hour. This requires seamless coordination of an inter-disciplinary team, including EMS, emergency department, pathology, imaging services and neurological services. 

These efforts are led by Stroke Coordinator Kimberly Elks, RN, and Medical Director Keith Hull, MD.  Being named a Primary Stroke Center truly validates that WakeMed's processes and procedures work to get stroke patients the care they need as quickly as possible and challenges us to seek continuous improvement opportunities.

The Stroke Program provides a comprehensive approach to stroke prevention and management that includes:

• Collaboration with EMS to facilitate rapid assessment and transport to the hospital for intervention.
• A team approach that minimizes time from arrival to administration of thrombolytics.
• Neuroradiologists for interpretation of imaging for stroke and cerebrovascular pathology,
• Neurology coverage twenty four hours per day and seven days per week for evaluation and treatment of acute stroke patients.
• Availability of neurosurgery coverage twenty four hours per day and seven days per week for cases requiring surgery to repair leaking arteries or for brain decompression.
• Neuro intensive care unit for optimization of care for patients with severe strokes.
• Nursing staff skilled in assessment and care of the stroke patient.
• A designated nursing unit for the care of patients with neurological and neurosurgical diagnoses including stroke.
• Interdisciplinary care planning involving physicians, nurses, case managers, a multidisciplinary team of therapists, and other ancillary services such as nutritionist consultation and pastoral care, with evidence based practice guidelines as its basis.
• Comprehensive post discharge rehabilitation services through referral to WakeMed Rehabilitation Hospital.
• Internal quality improvement activities with benchmarks against regional and national performance.
• Continuing education related to cerebrovascular disease, its prevention and management, for stroke team members, physicians, and hospital staff.
• Public education and awareness programs that focus on risk factor reduction for stroke prevention, early recognition of signs and symptoms of stroke, and the importance of seeking medical help quickly by calling 911.
• Community stroke support groups