Sutter-affiliated hospitals in the Sacramento-Sierra region provide around-the-clock emergency diagnosis and treatment to stroke patients. These hospitals include Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital, Sutter Davis Hospital and Sutter Roseville Medical Center. Sutter Neuroscience Institute Stroke Center is housed within Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento. The Sutter Stroke Centerprovides emergency care to patients admitted to Sutter General Hospital and Sutter Memorial Hospital, as well as care to patients referred or transported from Sutter regional hospitals and others.

Monitoring
Sutter Stroke Center facilities at Sutter General and Sutter Memorial Hospitals provide continuous monitoring of stroke patients, as well as full-service intensive care units for patients requiring a higher intensity of care. In addition to the attending ICU critical care physician, both hospitals offer additional surveillance and support through electronic ICU (eICU) monitoring. The eICU uses a combination of technologies, such as remote monitoring and real-time communications with a specially trained critical care specialist, to provide an extra layer of care for patients. In addition, Sutter General Hospital houses a specially equipped neuro-observation unit.

Diagnosis
To ensure the best possible outcome for each patient, the Stroke Center features 24-hour advanced diagnostic testing with an onsite neuroradiologist available around the clock. Diagnostic testing includes CT and MRI imaging and related techniques, catheter angiography, extracranial ultrasonography, transcranial Doppler ultrasound, transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography, tests of cerebral blood flow and metabolism and clinical laboratory services. To speed collaboration between specialists, all Stroke Center physicians are equipped with remote-viewing systems that allow them to view image scans and films from their homes.

Treatment
The Sutter Stroke Center offers advanced treatment capabilities that include immediate access to all FDA-approved stroke medications and immediate treatment through neurosurgery and vascular surgery. The center also offers focused irradiation treatment with the Leksell Gamma Knife® and endovascular surgical care that uses radiological imaging to allow specially trained physicians to treat complex conditions from within the brain's blood vessels.

Rehabilitation
Recovery depends on the extent of damage caused by the stroke. Patients may recover quickly, while others may require extensive rehabilitation care. Sutter Stroke Center staff works in concert with Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital's Acute Rehabilitation Services and Sutter Oaks Midtown Nursing Center. Sutter Auburn Faith provides care for patients who no longer require acute care but who have experienced significant impairment. Sutter Oaks Midtown Nursing Center provides the next tier of service for patients who have less impairment but still require rehabilitation services before returning home or moving into another long-term environment.

Research
Sutter Stroke Center physicians work closely with Sutter Institute for Medical Research to provide patients access to promising new developments in diagnosing, preventing and treating strokes. Through clinical trials, the center can offer patient's the opportunity to volunteer as research participants for final-stage trials of new diagnostic tools, medications, medical devices and prevention strategies at the forefront of medicine.

While the nature of a stroke makes it impossible to predict a patient's ability to achieve a complete recovery, Sutter Stroke Center offers the facilities, technology and staff to bring about the best possible outcome.