Know Where to Go for Advanced Stroke Care and Recovery

Each year nearly 800,000 Americans suffer a new or recurrent stroke. That means a stroke occurs every 40 seconds on average.

You or a loved may be experiencing a stroke if one or more of the following symptoms occur suddenly:

• numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg—especially on one side of the body;
• confusion, trouble speaking or understanding;
• trouble seeing in one or both eyes;
• trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination;
• severe headache with no known cause.

A sponsored article by Silver Cross Hospital

Call 9-1-1 immediately if you think you or a loved one might be having a stroke. Time is life, so it’s critically important that treatment be started as soon as possible. But knowing who to turn to for help and recovery can be just as critical. Fortunately, you now have access to the one of the best neuroscience teams in the world nearby. 

The Silver Cross Neuroscience Institute features a team of some of the most experienced specialists in the Chicago area, offering the full continuum of care that includes preventing strokes, halting them in their path, and providing the necessary rehabilitation to get stroke victims back on their feet and back to their lives. 

"Even before a patient with signs of stroke arrives in Silver Cross Emergency Department, a Code Stroke protocol is activated utilizing a team approach," said Dr. Kathleen McCahill, Medical Director of the Silver Cross Stroke Program. "Our goal is to make sure that every patient receives the right treatment immediately."

Whether it’s Thrombolytic drugs, tPA, or a life-saving procedure in Silver Cross Hospital’s new state-of-the-art neuro interventional suite, stroke patients at Silver Cross receive all the care they need all under one roof. 

The hospital’s latest addition is a biplane angiography system to diagnosis and treat strokes and other neurological diseases. 

"This equipment allows specialists to extend the treatment window up to eight hours to stop a stroke and even reverse its effect," said Dr. Harish Shownkeen, Medical Director of the Neuro Interventional Surgery Program at Silver Cross. "Using this new technology, endovascular and surgical procedures can be performed more quickly and with an even greater level of safety for patients by cutting the normal procedure length and radiation exposure in half." 

But what really sets the Silver Cross Neuroscience Institute apart from other programs is the ability to not only diagnose and treat stroke but also recover patients right here at Silver Cross. Silver Cross has partnered with The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC), which has been ranked the “Best Rehabilitation Hospital in America” by U.S. News & World Report every year since 1991.  Stroke patients benefit from RIC at Silver Cross’ new 24-bed inpatient rehabilitation unit as well as four outpatient facilities — at the hospital, Homer Glen, New Lenox (Route 30) and West Joliet.

"We know that a stroke is a frightening experience for not just the patient, but for everyone who cares for the patient," said Dr. McCahill. "With Silver Cross you’re never alone — we’re committed to helping achieve the best life possible."

For a Free Stroke Awareness Kit, call 1-888-660-HEAL (4325) or visit www.silvercross.org.

Free Lecture

Dr. Harish Shownkeen, Medical Director of the Neuro Interventional Surgery Program at Silver Cross, will discuss the latest minimally invasive treatment and recovery options for new and recurrent strokes on Tuesday, Feb. 19. Stroke: State-of-the-Art Treatment Options will be held in the Silver Cross Hospital Conference Center, Pavilion A, 1890 Silver Cross Blvd., New Lenox from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Call 1-888-660-HEAL or visit www.silvercross.org to register for the free program.