Kentucky’s First Joint Commission-Certified Primary Stroke Center

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As the first certified stroke center in Kentucky, University of Louisville Hospital provides patients with an aggressive and unique approach to stroke assessment by diagnosing strokes quickly and beginning treatment immediately – saving precious time and brain.

Led by Dr. Kerri Remmel , Director of University Hospital’s Stroke Center, the Stroke Team is above the national average in the administration of IV tPA (intravenous tissue plasminogen activator) for acute ischemic stroke (stroke caused by a blood clot in the brain). IV tPA must be given within the first three hours of stroke onset and only after ruling out hemorrhagic stroke (strokes caused by a ruptured blood vessel in the brain).

In 2010, University Hospital’s Stroke Team treated 15 percent of stroke patients with IV tPA (national average is 3-4 percent), the only drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of ischemic strokes. The number includes patients who had the drug administered at University Hospital, as well as those patients that had it administered at an outlying hospital after talking with one of our stroke neurologists, and then the patient was transferred to University Hospital for additional care.

The Stroke Team at University Hospital was the first hospital in Kentucky to receive the Target:  Stroke Honor Roll Award from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) for its commitment to providing tPA promptly after patients arrive at University Hospital. In 2011, the Stroke Center received the Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Award, marking the fifth straight year of receiving the Gold or Gold Plus Award. These awards illustrate University Hospital’s commitment and success in implementing excellent care for stroke patients according to evidence-based guidelines.

University Hospital’s Stroke Team features an expert team of stroke neurologists and interventional stroke neurologists:

• Dr. Kerri Remmel, Director of University Hospital’s Stroke Center
• Dr. Alex Abou-Chebl, Interventional Stroke Neurologist
• Dr. Vincent Truong, Stroke Neurologist
• Dr. Anand Vaishnav, Stroke Neurologist
• Dr. Wei Liu, Interventional Stroke Neurologist

Former Patients Share Their Stories

Andrew Fisher and Bethany Miller are two former patients of the University Hospital Stroke Center. They each have remarkable stories and credit the Stroke Team with saving their lives.

If you are a former stroke patient at University Hospital and would like to share your story, tell it here.