Life-altering events.

Stroke. Blood clots. Aneurysm. Vascular emergencies can hit fast, without warning, and they have the potential to leave you permanently disabled. When a vascular emergency occurs, rapid, expert treatment is often the only way to prevent serious injury or death. That’s why our emergency departments work overtime to achieve the highest possible level of preparedness. And it’s why we work with some of the very best physicians in the Valley. Time and effectiveness is our highest priority because we know it can make all the difference in your recovery.

Abrazo's Stroke Capabilities

All Abrazo hospitals are certified as Primary Stroke Centers. In addition, Abrazo Central has a Get With the Guidelines - Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award, with outcomes that beat the national averages. In addition, Abrazo Central is a Thrombectomy-Capable Certified Stroke Center by the Joint Commission, with outcomes that beat the national averages.

Know The Symptoms. Act F.A.S.T.

For every minute that brain cells are deprived of oxygen during a stroke, the likelihood of brain damage increases. F.A.S.T. represents four key signs of stroke identification. Here’s how it works:

Face - Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop? 
Arms - Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? 
Speech - Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred? Can the patient repeat the sentence correctly? 
Time - If a person is having trouble with these basic commands, call 911 immediately.

Speed matters.

If you have a stroke, every second is critical. Each one that ticks by increases your risk of brain damage. So when you call for help, you want to know experts are on the way—fast. From the EMTs to the ER docs, the primary stroke teams at our hospitals have proven fast response times, so you can be sure you’ll get life-saving care before it’s too late.