Stroke Center

Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak and Beaumont Hospital, Grosse Pointe are proud of their designation as Primary Stroke Centers by The Joint Commission, the nation's predominant accrediting organization in health care. This distinction recognizes that Beaumont:

• provides quality care
• meets the specialized needs of stroke patients
• makes exceptional efforts to foster better outcomes

Stroke Care at Royal Oak

Our certification is the result of the comprehensive nature of our stroke care, which includes:

• Two interventional stroke specialists on staff, making Beaumont, Royal Oak, the only hospital in the area with an emergency treatment team in the hospital 24/7
• Dedicated intensive care beds for stroke patients
• A dedicated neuroscience unit with 66 beds and nine monitored critical care beds
• Specially trained nursing staff
• Interventional neurosurgeons and neuroradiologists who can administer intra-arterial TPA and remove clots and stent aneurysms in the brain

Beaumont, Royal Oak, treats more stroke patients than any other hospital in the state of Michigan.* It is also the only hospital in Oakland and Macomb counties that can provide complete interventional care for acute stroke and aneurysm patients any time day or night.

Stroke Care at Grosse Pointe

The Joint Commission’s Stroke Center Certification was achieved at Beaumont Hospital, Grosse Pointe by demonstrating exceptional patient care, quality and safety and complying with the highest national standards. Certification emphasizes a commitment to significantly improving outcomes for stroke patients as outlined by the Joint Commission.

Our Grosse Pointe Stroke Center also has 24/7 access to stroke specialists at Beaumont, Royal Oak, in addition to their own staff, for assistance with acute diagnosis. Beaumont, Troy, also has stroke specialists on staff.

Emergency Center Key to Initial Stroke Care

Beaumont, Royal Oak, can provide the more-advanced care of a Primary Stroke Center. Because of our staff of interventional specialists, we offer additional treatment options that can improve outcomes for stroke patients.

Care in the Emergency Center is managed by a stroke team composed of physician assistants and nurse practitioners specially trained to quickly identify stroke symptoms and begin treatment. This team works as a liaison among patient, family, emergency medical professionals and neurologists.

Our protocols call for CT testing to be completed and read by a physician within 25 minutes of being ordered. Our CT equipment is also capable of performing angiogram images if requested.

Based on the diagnosis, the stroke team's goal is to begin intravenous TPA dosing within 60 minutes of the patient's arrival at the Emergency Center.

At Royal Oak, the stroke team is available to respond to all in-hospital strokes, so that patients receive the same urgent assessment as they would in the Emergency Center.

Prompt Rehab Key to Stroke Care

Research has shown that the earlier rehabilitation begins, the better the outcome for stroke patients. At Beaumont, Royal Oak, rehabilitation begins promptly, usually within 36 to 48 hours of admission.

After a patient is carefully evaluated for their physical and mental capabilities, rehabilitation usually involves:

• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Speech and language therapy

The goal is to return the patient to as independent a lifestyle as possible. Because of the tremendous advances in stroke treatment and rehabilitation techniques, many patients recover various levels of functional abilities.

To aid in rehabilitation, Beaumont, Royal Oak, offers a day room on the stroke unit. This room mimics a home environment and is stocked with:

• Computers
• Board games
• TVs
• Recliners

With the help of rehab specialists and a patient's home caregivers, patients can  eat dinner with their family and have their nails and hair done.

The room is also used for support groups, stroke education programs and family conferences.

Throughout the recovery process, Beaumont staff maintains communication with the patient's primary care physician. Discharge planning is handled by care managers experienced in working with the special needs of stroke patients and their families.