Stroke Services

Northwest Texas Healthcare System in Amarillo, Texas, is a leader in stroke care, providing a higher standard of service for stroke patients in our community.

Nationally Recognized Stroke Care

We are an Advanced Primary Stroke Center as designated by The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Heart Association®/American Stroke Association® Heart-Check mark. This shows that we have thoroughly demonstrated the greatest level of commitment to the care of stroke patients and that we adhere to a very specific set of treatment guidelines when treating all patients experiencing a stroke or stroke-type symptoms.

U.S. News & World Report has named Northwest Texas Healthcare System as a 2023-2024 High Performing hospital for Stroke. This is the highest award a hospital can earn for U.S. News’ Best Hospitals Procedures and Conditions ratings.

Remote Consultations Through Telemedicine

Specialty 'telestroke' (telemedicine) services at Northwest Texas Healthcare System help patients receive advanced assessment and rapid treatment during the critical period following the onset of stroke symptoms. Two-way audiovisual capabilities provide immediate, remote consultations anytime day or night. Telemedicine capabilities bring advanced neurological specialties to the bedside at Northwest Texas Healthcare System.

Using secure, advanced telemedicine equipment, specialty stroke neurologists are "in the room" working collaboratively with Northwest's emergency and stroke teams to determine the most effective treatment option for patients.

Telestroke services include:

• Twenty-four-hour availability
• Secure, robotic video conferencing
• Evidence-based clinical treatment
• Consultation and collaboration with board-certified stroke neurologists

Stroke Explained

A stroke is what occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked or stopped. Within a few minutes of a stroke, brain cells begin to die. This is why it's so important for someone who is having a stroke to get medical attention as quickly as possible. Stroke affects about one person every four minutes in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Stroke Symptoms

Symptoms of possible stroke include:

• Numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg — especially on one side of the body
• Confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding speech
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• Severe headache with no known cause.

If you or someone you're with has any of these symptoms, you must get yourself or them to a hospital immediately. Staff in the emergency department will administer acute stroke medications to try to stop a stroke while it is happening. Ischemic stroke, the most common type of stroke, is treated with the 'clot-busting' drug known as tPA. The drug must be given to patients within three- to four-and-a-half hours after the onset of stroke symptoms.

BE FAST and Save a Life

If you or someone near you may be having a stroke, call 9-1-1 right away. The quicker you call for help, the sooner medical treatment can begin.

Use the acronym BE FAST to quickly identify possible strokes:

Preventing Stroke

The best way to keep your brain healthy is to avoid a stroke in the first place. The best ways to prevent stroke are to do the following:

• Keep your blood pressure controlled through lifestyle changes and/or medications
• Don't smoke or stop smoking
• Take steps to manage your cholesterol
• Limit your alcohol consumption
• Exercise regularly
• Maintain a healthy weight