Expert Stroke Care Program from the Emergency Room to Rehab

CHRISTUS Health delivers the best possible stroke care during a patient’s journey, as it’s essential for a successful recovery.

Delivering the best possible stroke care across the entire journey of getting treated and recovering from a stroke means providing a comprehensive, patient-focused approach to care.

After a person has been diagnosed with a stroke, CHRISTUS Health’s top priority is is to provide ongoing follow-up care and rehabilitative services to help them achieve the best possible outcome.

CHRISTUS Health provides several stroke care services that patients will benefit from:

• We have unparalleled expertise in rehabilitation, providing the most innovative therapies and technologies and an expert team of compassionate caregivers dedicated to helping you achieve your goals.
• We deliver connected care and superior outcomes through state-of-the-art inpatient rehabilitation hospitals.
• Our therapists will work with you to achieve your unique goals by combining speech, occupational and physical therapy.
• At our hospitals, you will receive three hours of therapy, five days a week, 24/7 nursing care, including nurses specializing in rehabilitation, and frequent visits from a physician.

Signs & Symptoms of a Stroke

These five symptoms are the most common signs of a stroke and should be assessed quickly to determine if someone is having a stroke.

B – Balance: Sudden loss of balance or dizziness

E – Eyes: Loss of vision in one or both eyes

F – Face Drooping: Does one side of the face droop, or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven?

A – Arm Weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S – Speech Difficulty: Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat simple sentences like “The sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly?

T – Time to call 9-1-1: If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared.

Certified Stroke Centers - Ready When You Need Them

CHRISTUS Health stroke care has exemplary facilities across its health network system that provide comprehensive and specialized care to individuals experiencing stroke symptoms.

Our dedicated team of medical professionals has achieved superior results in stroke prevention, treatment, and recovery.

• CHRISTUS Spohn received recognition from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for stroke care by meeting achievement measures when diagnosing and treating stroke patients. This involves using advanced medications and therapies that reduce the risk of a stroke.
• CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Emergency Center – Alon is the first freestanding emergency room recognized as “Stroke Ready” in San Antonio. The certification means the Emergency Center is equipped to treat stroke patients with timely, evidence-based care before transferring to a Primary or Comprehensive Stroke Center.
• CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Medical Center received the American Heart Association’s highest award for stroke response. The Medical Center was awarded the American Stroke Association’s Get with the Guidelines Target: Stroke Honor Roll and Elite Plus Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award.
• CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital - Tyler was named a Comprehensive Stroke Center by The Joint Commission in 2018, recognizing their ability to treat complex stroke cases. In 2024, they received the Gold Plus: Target Stroke Elite Plus award from The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association.

Personalized Stroke Rehabilitation for Better Health Outcomes

CHRISTUS Health is committed to providing high-quality stroke rehabilitation services across its many locations.

From initial assessment and diagnosis through goal-oriented treatment, the CHRISTUS team of skilled professionals will develop a personalized rehabilitation plan to meet individual needs.

Our therapeutic stroke recovery environment allows patients to gain confidence and independence as they progress toward their recovery goals.

We use an interdisciplinary approach to recovery, blending evidence-based practices such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology.

We understand that everyone’s situation is different, and we develop a plan tailored to each patient’s needs.

Investing in Advanced Technology that Saves Lives

CHRISTUS Health is dedicated to investing in the most advanced medical equipment and technologies so our patients can receive the highest quality of care.

CHRISTUS has committed to providing patients with cutting-edge treatments and procedures from the latest imaging technology to robotic surgery tools.

CHRISTUS Health System has implemented the CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Stroke Program. The program provides a neurology telemedicine service, TeleSpecialists TeleStroke, and the newly implemented artificial intelligence imaging program, Viz.ai Technology.

TeleSpecialists TeleStroke allows patients 24/7 emergency access to a neurologist with experience treating strokes. When treatment begins for a patient experiencing a stroke, a hospital-wide “stroke alert” is issued. A clinical team is connected to a board-certified neurologist through video using the TeleSpecialists TeleStroke technology. A video is mounted on a mobile cart, which allows a neurologist to participate in the neurological exam. A neurologist will participate in the physical exam and patient interview and recommend a course of treatment.

Viz.ai is an AI-powered software that helps healthcare professionals quickly and accurately diagnose strokes using medical imaging. It enables the rapid detection of stroke patterns in MRI, CT scans, and other imaging modalities. This can help save critical time when treating a stroke patient. The platform uses deep learning algorithms to detect subtle changes in the brain and alert healthcare practitioners of a potential stroke in the patient. Viz.ai also helps clinicians accurately assess whether a stroke is hemorrhagic or ischemic, which can help guide treatment decisions.

Comprehensive Approach from our Multidisciplinary Team

CHRISTUS Healthcare provides comprehensive stroke care services delivered by a multidisciplinary team of experts. This team includes neurologists, neurosurgeons, cardiologists, and other specialists who work together to develop a personalized treatment plan for each patient.

The goal is to maximize health outcomes for those suffering from stroke-related conditions.

Patients receive regular follow-up visits to monitor progress, adjust medication dosages when necessary, and provide lifestyle education.

With the help of a multidisciplinary team, CHRISTUS can provide comprehensive stroke care services that focus on improving health outcomes for each patient.

When you choose any of our facilities, you are in the hands of healthcare providers who are experts in stroke care. Our multidisciplinary stroke team includes the following:

• Neurology nurses certified in stroke care by the National Institute of Health
• Neurologists available for consultations on tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) administration for ischemic stroke patients
• Vascular surgeons for any urgent vascular interventions.
• Rehabilitation team with extensive experience in neurological rehabilitation, including physical, occupational and speech therapies.
• Radiology services team, experts in procedures like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) scanning and Gamma Knife treatment.
• Neuro interventional radiologists perform intra-arterial thrombolysis, mechanical clot retrieval and coil treatment for aneurysms.
• Emergency care physicians and staff with extensive experience in treating patients with stroke symptoms.
• A Ph.D. -prepared neuro clinical nurse specialist.