Stroke Treatment Center in Amarillo
At BSA Health System, we understand that every second counts when it comes to a stroke. As a Certified Primary Plus Stroke Center, we provide rapid, individualized care to ensure the best possible outcomes and recovery. We offer treatments throughout all stages of stroke, from stroke prevention and emergency care to stroke rehabilitation. Our stroke treatment center includes a fully-equipped emergency room (ER) as well as inpatient and outpatient therapy centers for recovering patients. We also offer minimally-invasive surgical treatments to help prevent strokes before they occur. No matter your needs, our stroke specialists are prepared to offer fast, effective, and compassionate care to our patients in Amarillo, Texas and beyond.
Stroke Signs and Symptoms
Recognizing the symptoms of a stroke is one of the best ways to stay ahead of the health of you and your loved ones. There are many symptoms of stroke that patients should be aware of. One way to remember the most common symptoms is to BE FAST:
- B – Balance. Is the person suddenly having trouble with balance or coordination?
- E – Eyes. Is the patient experiencing sudden vision troubles? This includes blurred vision, double vision, or loss of sight in one or both eyes.
- F – Face drooping. Ask the person to smile. Is one side of their face numb or drooping?
- A – Arm weakness. Ask the person to raise both arms to the same level. Does one arm drift downward? Is one arm weak or numb?
- S – Speech difficulty. Ask the person to say a sentence. Are they struggling to speak normally?
- T – Time to call 911. If the person is experiencing ANY of these symptoms, call 911 immediately.
Accredited, Award-winning Stroke Care
To become a Certified Primary Plus Stroke Center, BSA Health System engaged in evaluation by the Det Norske Veritas Healthcare Group (DNV GL). This certification affirms our readiness and ability to provide a full spectrum of exceptional stroke-related medical care, including diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and education. The requirements to receive a Primary Plus Stroke Certification are based on the most current recommendations from the Brain Attack Coalition (BAC), American Heart Association (AHA), American Stroke Association (ASA), and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) conditions of participation.
Our hospital also received AHA and ASA’s Get with the Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award for 2022. Facilities that receive this prestigious award are top performers in stroke care and prevention. In order to quality for this award, our stroke center met specific quality achievement for 24 consecutive months. This includes providing patients with sufficient educational materials to promote better health after discharge, scheduling follow-up visits, and prescribing the proper medications and treatment plans for stroke patients.
We also provide 24/7 access to interventional radiologists in two dedicated bi-plane radiology suites. Having multiple radiologists and an experienced call team available ensures that our patients receive advanced stroke care in a timely manner. Our One Call team accepts referrals. Please call them at 806-212-7000 or 800-888 -8332.
Stroke Prevention with TCAR Surgery
BSA Health System is the only facility in the region designated as a 2019 TransCarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR) Center of Excellence by Silk Road Medical, Inc. TCAR is a minimally invasive carotid artery repair surgery.
During the procedure, the carotid artery is accessed through a minimally invasive incision. Blood flow to the brain is temporarily reversed, causing plaque fragments that may break off during the procedure to be diverted away from the brain. A stent is then placed inside the artery to stabilize plaque and minimize a patient’s risk of future stroke. This procedure takes half the time of a traditional carotid artery repair procedure and requires a shorter hospital stay. TCAR has the lowest reported-to-date rate of stroke at only 1.4%.
This procedure reduces the chance of stroke in patients with a high risk of developing carotid artery disease. Using robotic technology, this minimally invasive procedure leaves smaller scars, offers patients faster recovery times, and results in less tissue damage and blood loss. If you have carotid artery disease and are considered to be high-risk for traditional surgery, you may qualify for TCAR. For more information, please call 806-212-6604.