Los Angeles County's Certified Stroke Center

Every 45 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke. It’s the third leading cause of death and a major cause of disability. The key to surviving a stroke is receiving a fast diagnosis and the right treatment.

Lakewood Regional Medical Center provides comprehensive stroke care.  Lakewood Regional's emergency staff are trained to identify the signs of stroke and deliver early intervention care that limits damaging effects.

Highly Specialized and Certified Stroke Center

Lakewood Regional Medical Center received the Joint Commission’s Certificate of Distinction as a Primary Stroke Center. This designation recognizes centers that make exceptional efforts to foster better outcomes for stroke care.

Expert Stroke Care

Our physicians, nurses and other medical staff are specially trained to recognize the signs of stroke and deliver immediate, expert care. Emergency room physicians quickly determine the nature of the stroke and provide proper treatment.

What is a Stroke?

There are two types of stroke: ischemic and hemorrhagic. Both kinds of stroke prevent blood getting to the affected area of the brain, which damages or destroys brain tissue. It is important to know which type of stroke a patient is having to determine the appropriate treatment.

Types of Strokes

Ischemic Strokes

An ischemic stroke is caused by a major blockage, or clot, in one of the key blood vessels supplying the brain. The blockage can come from a blood vessel within the brain itself, or from pieces of plaque breaking off from hardening of the arteries or plaques in the heart, or the carotid artery. Ischemic strokes are far more common than hemorrhagic strokes.

Hemorrhagic Strokes

The second type of stroke is a hemorrhagic stroke, caused by a blood vessel bursting or leaking and bleeding into the brain. If a patient has a hemorrhagic stroke, immediate neurosurgical intervention, or aggressive medical management may be needed. Each case is highly individual.

Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIA or "mini strokes")

Transient ischemic attacks occur when a blood clot temporarily clogs an artery or blood vessel in the brain. Symptoms may be the same as an ischemic stroke, including weakness, numbness, double vision, and altered speech. The difference is that with a TIA, the symptoms usually last less than 24 hours, and typically disappear within an hour or two. Even though the symptoms are no longer present, we recommend that patients with TIA come to the hospital immediately for treatment. TIAs can be an important predictor of a stroke.

Stroke Treatment

Stroke can be a devastating disease and can lead to lifelong infirmity or death. The diagnosis of stroke, however, is no longer as dire as it used to be. Timely intervention at a certified stroke center can frequently minimize or even reverse brain injury. Coming to Lakewood Regional Medical Center as an acute stroke patient should give patients, their families and friends relief and assurance.

Lakewood Regional Medical Center’s multifaceted approach in the treatment and management of a stroke patient begins by taking a physical assessment, a personal history and looking for the signs and symptoms of an acute stroke. Once determined, we move our patient quickly into the diagnostic or imaging study of the brain.

Lakewood Regional Medical Center Stroke Treatment Program includes:

• Emergency Treatment
• Interventional Radiology
• Intensive Care