The Stroke and Neurovascular Center at Bronson provides complete medical treatment for stroke. This includes everything from fast treatment for people who have had a stroke to special follow-up care and rehabilitation.
Services
Diagnosis and Treatment
Patients often have the best outcomes when they are treated with the drug tPA within three hours after stroke symptoms appear. This drug breaks up blood clots and restores blood flow to the damaged area. But for some kinds of stroke, tPA can make the problem worse.
That's why a "Stroke Call Down" occurs when a stroke victim arrives at our Trauma and Emergency Center. Bronson's Acute Stroke Intervention Team jumps into action. They use guidelines developed by the National Institutes of Health and American Heart Association/American Stroke Association to quickly identify the kind of stroke, evaluate how severe it is, and begin the right treatment.
Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation starts as soon after a stroke as possible. Our therapists manage each patient's care to restore function and independence and to allow a return to home, family, community, and workplace.
Quality
Bronson is certified as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission. That means we use best practice guidelines to ensure that our stroke patients have the best chance of a good outcome. We have the area's only vascular neurologist, a physician who provides advanced diagnosis of stroke and related diseases
Bronson is a member of the National Stroke Association (NSA) and the National Stroke Center Network.
Prevention
For more information about warning signs and reducing your risk for stroke, please visit our Health Library section.
Education
To help make people aware of the warning signs of stroke and what can be done to reduce risks, Bronson's Neurosciences Team offers a program called "Get Stroke Smart" to community groups and organizations.
If you would like to schedule a "Get Stroke Smart" presentation for your group, please call the Neurosciences coordinator at (269) 341-7587.
For more information on stroke such as warning signs and risks, visit our Health Library section.
If you have experienced a stroke and your doctor has prescribed the drug warfarin (Coumadin®) for you, please watch this video.
Our Team
Dean Kindler, MD, is Medical Director for Adult Neurology and Stroke Services. Bratislav Velimirovic, MD, PhD, is Medical Director for Neurosurgery. For profiles of physicians specializing in neurology, neurosurgery and other related areas, visit our Find a Doctor section.
Related Websites
National Stroke Association
American Stroke Association
National Stroke Center
