75 North Country Road, Port Jefferson, NY 11777 • 631.473.1320

High Quality Care Remains a Constant

Since 1992, John T. Mather Memorial Hospital Chest Pain ER has provided optimal care to patients experiencing symptoms of a heart attack, increasing their chances for survival. Now at The Stroke Center at Mather Hospital, the same high quality care is available for stroke patients.

Mather's Stroke Team:

A “Stroke Team” of specially trained doctors, nurses and clinical staff has been established and is quickly ready to effectively diagnose and deliver emergency and acute stroke care treatment. It includes:

• Neurologists
• Radiologists
• Certified stroke Emergency Physicians Emergency Department staff - for immediate intervention.
• A Monitored Stroke Unit where patients are cared for by a medical team headed by a neurologist, including physician assistants and nurses with advanced stroke training.
• State-of-the-art diagnostic technology including an ultra-speed CT scanner, which provides doctors with accurate results within one minute.
• The latest, most effective treatments to reduce brain damage and speed recovery, including the clot buster T-PA.

Rapid Diagnosis is Vital

Studies show that when patients receive rapid diagnosis and treatment of the brain attack symptoms, they often experience fewer disabilities. Patients who receive treatment at designated Stroke Centers generally have shorter hospital stays and fewer permanent disabilities. The Stroke Team at Mather Hospital meets and exceeds the criteria set by New York State.

Reduce Your Risk of Stroke

There are ways to help reduce your risk of having a brain attack. First, learn the signs and symptoms of a brain attack and always call 911 – brain attack is an emergency! While age and family history are factors you cannot manage, there are many risk factors you can control:

• Keep your blood pressure under control
• Watch your cholesterol
• Exercise regularly
• Watch your diet
• If you smoke, quit! Avoid second hand smoke
• If you are a diabetic, keep your diabetes under control.
• Ask your doctor if you should take an antiplatelet medication. Examples of this medication are aspirin, warfarin, and clopidogrel. Antiplatelet medications keep blood platelets from sticking together and forming clots. 83% of all strokes occur when platelets in the blood stick together and form clots.
• During the warm months, stay hydrated.
• If you have had a TIA (Trans Ischemic Attack or mini stroke) always follow your doctor’s directions, as this is a warning sign that you are at a greater risk of having a stroke.

Services and Community Programs

• Designated Stroke Team - Neurologists, Emergency Department Physicians, and house staff who have met and exceeded the criteria set by New York State Department of Health.
• Dedicated 4-bed stroke unit.
• Nursing and ancillary staff have been educated in stroke awareness (team approach).
• 24 hours/7 days a week operation of two CAT scan machines.
• State-of-the-art new Sonosite ultra sound equipment in Emergency Department so no delay in evaluation of heart and carotid arteries.
• 24 hours/7 days a week on-site Robotic Laboratory which reduces the time of laboratory test results.
• Physical Therapy Department is available on-site 7 days per week.
• Occupational Therapy on-site.
• Nutritional services.
• Specially trained nurses educate stroke/TIA (mini stroke) patients regarding risk and treatment modalities.
• Sleep Apnea is now being considered as a risk factor of stroke. Mather Hospital has an on-site Sleep Center.
• Free community stroke screenings on-site, the fi rst Wednesday of every month from 11 AM - 1 PM. Call ( 631) 476-2723 for conference room location.
• Speakers’ Bureau available for stroke lectures to the community.

Stroke (often referred to as Brain Attack) is a medical emergency.

Call 911 if you are experiencing symptoms of a stroke.

Signs of a Stroke

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

Every minute counts for stroke patients.

If you think you are experiencing a stroke, dial 911 immediately and ask to be brought to The Stroke Center at Mather Hospital.

For more information on The Stroke Center, call (631) 686-7660 or e-mail thestrokecenter@matherhospital.org.

To schedule an educational visit for your facility/ group or organization, please call 476-2723. Speakers are available to come to your site.

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