Osceola Regional Medical Center now offers a higher level of care for complex stroke cases and becomes the first and only Comprehensive Stroke Center in Osceola County. The addition of the AHCA Certified Comprehensive Stroke Center to its Joint Commission Certified Advanced Primary Stroke Center is part of a $50 million expansion plan announced earlier this year.

By achieving Comprehensive Stroke Center status, Osceola Regional is now providing more advanced stroke treatments than primary stroke centers located in Osceola and surrounding counties. Scientific evidence shows that when a stroke, or also called brain attack occurs, immediate assessment and treatment will reduce the effects of stroke and lessen the chances of a permanent disability. With the opening of the new Comprehensive Stroke Center, patients suffering from all types of strokes to include severe stroke cases such as large brain clots and hemorrhages, can now receive immediate care closer to home.

With 24/7 access to minimally invasive stroke procedures, on-site neurosurgeons, and dedicated Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit, the hospital's new Comprehensive Stroke Center is staffed with a specially trained team of neurointerventionalists, neurologists, neurosurgeons and healthcare professionals with 24/7 coverage. Dr. Ankur Garg, Neurointerventionalist and Medical Director leads the program and advanced technologies such as Biplane Angiography which produces three-dimensional views of the brain to help diagnose and treat complex strokes.

"My goal is provide outstanding care to stroke and brain hemorrhage patients while bringing world-class treatment to Osceola and surrounding communities", said Dr. Garg. Osceola Regional Medical Center's CEO, Davide Carbone mentioned how the hospital's multiple expansions and additions have extended the hospital's commitment to providing advanced healthcare services to our community. "As a hospital with Comprehensive Stroke Care, we can seamlessly provide treatment to patients whose conditions require a higher level of stroke treatment expertise. We're proud to be able to offer this service to our community."

According the American Heart and Stroke Association, stroke is the No. 5 cause of death in the nation, accounting for approximately 795,000 strokes each year and is the leading cause of serious long-term disability. On average, someone has a stroke every 40 seconds in the US and every 4 minutes, someone dies of a stroke. Locally, Osceola Regional continues to see sicker patients in our community and reported they treated nearly 645 stroke patients since the beginning of this year.

In an effort to educate the community, the hospital urges the community to act fast to know the signs of stroke and to call 911 immediately. For more information on the risk factors, prevention and signs of stroke, visit OsceolaRegional.com/stroke.

Earlier this year, Osceola Regional received the American Heart and Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines® Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award with the highest distinction of Target: Stroke Honor Roll-Elite, which recognizes its commitment to treating patients according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines.