Stroke Care
A stroke can happen to anyone at any age – and getting fast, expert treatment is critical. As the most comprehensive network in the region, Hackensack Meridian Health gives you access to life-saving treatments closer to home.
Caring for thousands of stroke patients annually, our three Comprehensive Stroke Centers and nine Primary Stroke Centers are certified by the Joint Commission (TJC) and licensed by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDOHSS).
Our Stroke Centers
Hackensack University Medical CenterGet the Right Stroke Treatment Faster
The faster a stroke patient gets emergency care, the better the outcome. With 12 high level stroke centers in hospitals across the state, we deliver the right therapies, right away.- 24/7 coverage by our rapid-response stroke team comprised of a nurse practitioner or R.N. and a neurologist to ensure that treatment begins as soon as possible
- Access to medication that can be administered within the three-hour window
- 24/7 access to comprehensive diagnostic equipment including laboratory testing and CT Scan
Call 911 immediately if you or someone you know experience any of the following symptoms of stroke
- Difficulty speaking or understanding
- Dizziness, balance problems, or difficulty walking
- Sudden severe headache
- Sudden vision changes
- Sudden weakness or numbness, especially on one side of the body
Stroke Risk Factors
- Diabetes
- Gender (Stroke is more common in men)
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- If you are over the age 55
- Obesity/poor diet
- Personal or family history of stroke or heart disease
- Physical inactivity
- Race (African Americans are twice as likely to die from stroke than Caucasians)
- Smoking
Stroke Treatment
- Hemorrhagic (bleeding) stroke, including intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage, caused by a ruptured blood vessel in the brain.
- Ischemic stroke, caused by a clot blocking blood flow to the brain. We deliver emergency clot-busting treatments, like tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and mechanical thrombectomy, faster than the national standard, giving you the best chance of a full recovery.
- Transient ischemic attack (TIA), also called a mini-stroke, a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain that causes stroke-like symptoms. If you have a mini-stroke, it may be a warning sign that a stroke is coming – and our experts can help you lower that risk.
Recognized for Our Stroke Expertise
Our team of emergency medicine physicians, neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, nurses and other specialists has provided the highest level of care for even the most severe strokes.- Hackensack University Medical Center, JFK University Medical Center and Jersey Shore University Medical Center are designated Comprehensive Stroke Centers by the Joint Commission and New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, which is the highest level of certification for hospitals equipped to receive and treat the most complex stroke cases.
- Nine of our regional hospitals are nationally-accredited as Primary Stroke Centers by the Joint Commission and New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services: Bayshore Medical Center; Mountainside Medical Center; Ocean University Medical Center; Old Bridge Medical Center; Packsack Valley Medical Center; Palisades Medical Center; Raritan Bay Medical Center; Riverview Medical Center; and Southern Ocean Medical Center.
- Eight Hackensack Meridian hospitals have been awarded the American Heart Association / American Stroke Association Get With The Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus Award.
- JFK University Medical Center and Jersey Shore University Medical Center consecutively receive Healthgrades’ America's 100 Best Hospitals for Stroke Care Award from Healthgrades.
- Hackensack University Medical Center, Ocean University Medical Center and Riverview Medical Center received the Stroke Care Excellence Award in 2024 from Healthgrades.
