The Penn Stroke Center is a Joint Commission-certified Comprehensive Stroke Center. As a comprehensive center, patients who have suffered a stroke have access to the most advanced resources available for the treatment of stroke.
Penn stroke physicians evaluate, diagnose and treat stroke and other diseases affecting the blood vessels in the brain.
A stroke occurs when there is an interruption of blood supply to the brain. As a result, nerve cells in the affected area of the brain are deprived of oxygen and die rapidly. When nerve cells die, the areas of the body controlled by these cells are unable to function. A stroke is an emergency and receiving immediate urgent care is critical to minimizing brain damage and preventing disability.
Treatment Locations
The Penn Stroke Center at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania is a Joint Commission-certified Comprehensive Stroke Center. As a comprehensive center, patients who have suffered a stroke have access to the most advanced resources available for the treatment of stroke 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Why Does Being a Comprehensive Stroke Center Matter?
The Penn Stroke Center at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania was awarded certification as a Comprehensive Stroke Center from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). It was the first hospital in Philadelphia to become certified as a comprehensive stroke center. This new level of certification recognizes the significant resources in staff and training that comprehensive stroke centers must have to treat complex stroke cases.
Joint Commission-certified Comprehensive Stroke Centers are required to have:
- A dedicated neurocritical care unit
- A high volume of stroke cases
- A system that optimizes the benefits of carotid artery procedures
- Advanced resources for the acute treatment of stroke patients available 24 hours a day
- Advanced neurodiagnostic tools
- Advanced practice nurses
- Certified vascular neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists and vascular surgeons
- Participation in stroke research
Additional Recognition
The Penn Stroke Center is committed to being a leading provider of high-quality, safe stroke care. Our team includes highly skilled neurologists, neurosurgeons and emergency medicine providers who work together to administer excellent patient care and optimize recovery. The following hospitals are recognized by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association:
- The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (Comprehensive Stroke Center):
Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Gold Plus Award and Target: Stroke Elite Plus
- Pennsylvania Hospital:
Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Gold Plus Award and Target: Stroke Elite Plus
- Penn Presbyterian Medical Center:
Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Gold Plus Award and Target: Stroke Elite
- Chester County Hospital:
Silver Plus Quality Award
- Lancaster General Hospital:
Stroke Gold Plus Award and Target: Stroke Elite Plus
The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania's certification as a Comprehensive Stroke Center is evidence of our success in implementing the highest Joint Commission standards required to provide complex stroke care, according to nationally accepted standards and recommendations. We take this responsibility seriously and publicly report our quality outcomes. We encourage you to take a look at these outcomes, which are a reflection of how well we take care of our patients and demonstrate our ongoing commitment to delivering highly effective care — each and every time.
The Comprehensive Stroke Center at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania completes carotid endarterectomy and carotid stents. The aggregate complication rate of those that are asymptomatic is 0.00% for the years 2018-2021.
Two faculty members have also received the American Academy of Neurology Michael Pessin Stroke Leadership Award. This prestigious national award recognizes neurologists who have demonstrated a passion for learning and expanding the field of stroke research.