Stroke
A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted. This can happen when a clot blocks the flow of blood through the blood vessels or when a vessel bursts. Since arteries and blood vessels supply blood to different parts of the brain, a stroke may present a variety of symptoms.
There are also different kinds of strokes:
- Transient ischemic attack
- Ischemia or blocked artery (embolic or thrombotic)
- Hemorrhagic stroke or burst blood vessel (intercerebral and subarachnoid aneurysms)
Stroke center certification
When a stroke occurs, the experts at Wellmont Health System are ready to step in and care for patients, saving lives and minimizing the health impacts. The Primary Stroke Center at Bristol Regional Medical Center has attained advanced certification by The Joint Commission. This means that the program:
- Provides the next generation of stroke care
- Has met and seeks to maintain The Joint Commission's high standards in providing stroke care
Appalachian Regional Stroke Center Network
The Primary Stroke Center at Bristol Regional – a founding member of the Appalachian Regional Stroke Center Network – has full neurological coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The professionals at the stroke center also provide their expertise to the member hospitals of the ARSCN when a patient presents with stroke. Along with Bristol Regional, Lonesome Pine Hospital is a founding member of the ARSCN, and Holston Valley Medical Center also provides specialized stroke care.
This means patients in the most rural areas of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia can receive the effective stroke care quickly. And the faster a patient receives treatment in a stroke, the better the outcome is likely to be.
Learn about stroke symptoms.
Related links