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Log in to My Covenant HealthParkwest Medical Center Certified as a Primary Stroke Center
Learn more about strokes and their symptoms.
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 2024, 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.
Stroke Symptoms – B.E.F.A.S.T.
If you think that you or a loved one is experiencing a stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately! Don’t forget time is important!
Here is a simple test to look for symptoms.
Balance
- Is the person uncoordinated and having difficulty walking?
Eyes
- Does the person have double or blurred vision?
Face
- Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
Arms
- Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
Speech
- Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred? Is the sentence repeated correctly?
Time
- If the person shows any of these symptoms, time is crucial. Call 9-1-1 immediately.
More Resources
Explore these resources to learn more about strokes, risk factors, and stroke prevention.