East Jefferson General Hospital – The Premier Hospital in Metairie, LA

Areas of Care

Stroke Care Fast, Expert Care When Minutes Matter

When the symptoms of a stroke hit, you are in the race of your life. You call 9-1-1 and EJGH EMS begins addressing your stroke immediately and before you arrive at the Emergency Department. That rapid response, along with proven therapies later, can significantly reduce the short and long-term effects of your stroke.

A stroke doesn’t discriminate, so it’s important to know your risks. If you have any history or hypertension or other warning signs, talk to your EJGH physician about reducing your risks. And if you do develop any FAST symptoms don’t hesitate to call 9-1-1 right away. Each minute matters.

When a stroke hits, think FAST

FACE - uneven smile, facial
ARM - numbness or weakness
SPEECH - slurred or difficulty speaking
TIME - every second matters in saving your life and limiting long-term effects.

EJGH has not only earned the American Heart/Stroke Association’s highest honor, “Gold Plus” now for the fifth consecutive year, we are also certified with LERN (Louisiana Emergency Response Network). At EJGH, our stroke program acts FAST. We immediately work to get your symptoms under control and limit the short and long-term damage done by your stroke. We have seen the difference minutes can make. If you believe you may be suffering a stroke, act FAST. Call 9-1-1 and put the region’s best stroke team to work for you.

What is a stroke?

A stroke occurs when blood supply to the brain is impeded or reduced, often caused by blockage in a blood vessel. Because blood is responsible for carrying oxygen to the brain, any interruption in that process can cause damage to the brain very quickly. Then, the part of the body connected to the damaged brain area will no longer be able to function properly.

Because brain damage can happen so quickly during a stroke, prompt action is vital. Administering treatment at the onset of symptoms can help to minimize brain damage and promote recovery.

What are the symptoms of stroke?

Symptoms of a stroke happen quickly. If any of the following symptoms suddenly occur, seek medical attention immediately. A stroke may cause:

  • Loss of sensation, weakness or paralysis in your face, arm, or leg, particularly on one side of your body.
  • Trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
  • Difficulty speaking, slurring or trouble comprehending what others are saying.
  • Trouble with walking or balance.
  • A sudden, severe headache that is different from past headaches.

If you have any of these symptoms, call 911 right away. Even symptoms that appear and then seem to go away could be a sign that a stroke is impending. From the onset of symptoms, you have three hours to receive treatment for maximum recovery. Do not wait to see if symptoms subside.

How is a stroke diagnosed?

To find out what kind of stroke it is, the doctor will do a type of X-ray called a CT scan of the brain, which can show if there is bleeding. The doctor may order other tests to find the location of the clot or bleeding, check for the amount of brain damage, and check for other conditions that can cause symptoms similar to a stroke.

What factors may increase the risk for stroke?

  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Smoking
  • Being overweight or obese
  • Diabetes
  • Sleep Apnea
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Heavy alcohol consumption or binge drinking
  • Illicit drug use
  • Personal or Family history of stroke or heart attack
  • Being over the age of 55

Awards & Recognitions

East Jefferson General Hospital has long been recognized for its personalized and comprehensive approach to treating stroke patients. In fact, CareChex, the leading hospital review service, has ranked EJGH in the top 10% of all hospitals in the United States for stroke care. East Jefferson General Hospital was also awarded its third consecutive American Heart Association Gold PLUS Performance Achievement Award and the Target Stroke Elite PLUS for Stroke Care.

Perhaps nothing speaks to the quality of care we provide stroke patients more than the designation we received from the Joint Commission, an independent, not-for-profit organization that is the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care, certifying EJGH as an Advanced Primary Care Stroke Center. This designation means a great deal to us, but here is what it means to those we care for:

  • Certification signifies we have implemented the stringent, national guidelines needed to achieve high level stroke care and outcomes Join Commission’s Disease-Specific Care Certification Program is designed to evaluate clinical programs across the continuum of care.
  • Designation shows an organized approach to performance measurement and improvement activities.
  • What all this means to you, the community we serve is that today we stand as a stroke treatment facility that can stand alongside the finest in the nation. But more importantly, it means we are actively dedicated to improving our processes to ensure we stay at the forefront of stroke care.