Parkwest Medical Center Certified as a Primary Stroke Center

Excellence in Stroke Care at Parkwest

Parkwest has received advanced certification from The Joint Commission as a Primary Stroke Center. This means that our physicians and staff are specially trained to care for patients experiencing stroke symptoms and that our facility has 24/7 stroke care coverage.

In 2025, Parkwest received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award with Target: Stroke Elite Honor Roll and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll. Our team has also been recognized by the organization for the last five years.

What is a Stroke?

A stroke occurs when the blood flow to an area of the brain is interrupted by a blocked or broken blood vessel. When a stroke occurs, it kills brain cells in the immediate area. When the brain cells die, they release chemicals that set off a chain reaction that endangers brain cells in a larger surrounding area of brain tissue. Without prompt medical treatment, this larger area will also die. When brain cells die, the abilities that area of the brain controls are lost or impaired. The degree of recovery from a stroke depends on the amount of brain cell death.

There are several steps you can take to prevent stroke. The first is to know your risk for having a stroke. A stroke assessment will help you identify steps you may need to take to lower your risk level. There are also several prevention guidelines to help you guard against the possibility of stroke.