Our multidisciplinary approach gives patients the best chance for preventing and surviving stroke. In addition to four vascular neurologists (stroke specialists), the multidisciplinary team includes:
Neuro-ICU specialists
Neurosurgeons
Interventional and Diagnostic Neuro-radiologists
Emergency Physicians
Rehabilitation Experts
Hematologists
Cardiologists and experts in hypertension, lipids, and diabetes
Psychiatrists and Neuropsychologists
Cardiovascular and Vascular Surgeons
Pharmacists specializing in neuroscience
In addition, a highly skilled nursing team plays a key role in coordinating research and monitoring the medical progress of patients.
Treating Acute Stroke
Harper University Hospital is one of the few hospitals in southeast Michigan with a team of vascular neurologists (stroke experts) available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Using telemedicine technology, Harper stroke specialists can even see acute stroke patients in other locations. Telemedicine robots at Detroit Receiving Hospital, Sinai-Grace Hospital and Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital enable Harper stroke specialists to diagnose and treat patients at those locations 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That's important when treating acute stroke — every second counts.
The First 4 Hours
The neurologists of the Primary Stroke Program are some of the most experienced in the state when it comes to acute stroke evaluation and TPA administration. TPA is a clot-busting medication that can be administered to a patient within 3 to 6 hours after a stroke. The medication can be administered using a traditional intravenous approach (within 3 hours of stroke onset) or it can be delivered directly to the clot site using an intra-arterial, catheter-based approach (up to 6 hours after stroke onset). Harper neurology team has had great success using both TPA techniques.
4 to 12 Hours
When a patient presents between 4 and 12 hours after acute stroke symptom onset, Harper stroke specialists now have a new treatment option. A newly FDA-approved embolectomy device gives vascular neurologists an effective, catheter-based method for retrieving and extracting stroke-causing blood clots quickly. This is an important breakthrough since TPA is generally not effective more than 4 hours after stroke onset.
Preventing Stroke
The Primary Stroke Program treats patients from all over the state of Michigan — helping to lower patients' risk of stroke and prevent recurrent stroke.
By giving patients a Primary assessment, the stroke team helps patients use the appropriate medications to lower cholesterol, thin blood and lower blood pressure.
Plus, the physicians of the Primary Stroke Program are actively involved in academic research into stroke prevention, including major studies on the benefits of statins in patients age 65 and older. Patients at Harper are often able to participate in clinical trials of new medications and therapies.
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