Primary Stroke Center
Top Rated Advanced Certified Primary Stroke Center
Landmark Medical Center is certified by The Joint Commission as a Primary
Stroke Center. This means that Landmark Medical Center’s Stroke Program has met
the national standards for safety and quality of care – confirming
that it has the personnel, procedures, and facilities to deliver high-quality
stroke care in timely manner.
Residents in the community and nearby communities can live in the comfort
of knowing that a hospital with specialized services for stroke treatment
is nearby.
With Stroke, Every Second Counts
Rapid diagnosis and treatment of a stroke is critical and can minimize
life-long complications. Landmark Medical Center’s team of stroke
specialists, EMTs, emergency department staff, and inpatient clinical
staff understand this urgency and are at the patient’s bedside within
minutes. Care for patients is coordinated at the moment of first contact
through rehabilitation. Part of our commitment to delivering high-quality
stroke care is to have a neurologist available 24 hours a day, every day
of the year.
Landmark Medical Center’s Stroke Program provides comprehensive diagnostic
and therapeutic care for patients with stroke and related disorders.
Patient Corner
What is a Stroke?
A stroke is a "brain attack" and occurs when a blood vessel that carries
blood (and oxygen) and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot
(ischemic stroke) or ruptures (hemorrhagic stroke). Because the blood
and nutrients cannot get to the brain, brain cells die.
Per the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke
is the No. 5 cause of death in the United States. On average, someone
in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds, someone dies of a stroke
every 4 minutes, and nearly 800,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke
each year.
What are the warning signs of a stroke?
FAST is an easy way to remember and identify the warning signs of a stroke.
Recognizing these symptoms and quickly calling 911 will determine how
fast someone will get help and treatment. Getting to the hospital as quickly
as possible may lead to a better recovery time.
Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Is there arm weakness? Does one
arm drift downward?
Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred
or strange?
Time: If you see any of the signs, call 911 immediately.
What are the causes and risk factors of stroke?
Stroke can happen to anyone at any age, but there are certain risk factors
that can increase your chance of getting a stroke. Some of these risk
factors include:
- family history of stroke or a personal history of stroke or heart attack
- high blood pressure
- diabetes
- high cholesterol
- circulation problems
- atrial fibrillation
- smoking
- lack of physical activity
To learn more about these and other risk factors
click here
Our Commitment to Quality
Landmark Medical Center’s Stroke Program is designed to be responsive
to the patient’s needs as well as deliver the highest standard of
quality care. Patients can rest assured knowing that the care provided
is managed to meet their unique and specialized needs.
Landmark Medical Center complies with the guidelines instituted by The
Joint Commission and the American Heart Association / American Stroke
Association. This ensures stroke patients receive treatment that meets
nationally accepted, evidence-based standards and recommendations. By
complying with these processes, Landmark Medical Center can significantly
improve outcomes for its stroke patients, resulting in a reduction of
risks of other adverse events that require emergency care or hospitalization.
Approved Stroke Center
In 2017, Landmark Medical Center became an Approved Primary Stroke Center
resulting in Emergency Medical Services transport suspected stroke patients
directly to Approved Primary Stroke Centers instead of to the nearest
hospital. Landmark Medical Center is recognized as one of the highest
quality stroke intervention facilities in Rhode Island.