Stroke is the nation's leading cause of adult disability, taking a tremendous toll on a patient and family's emotional and financial health. The long-term effects of a stroke depend on which part of the brain the stroke occurs. Speech, movement, sensation and memory may all be affected or not affected at all. A small stroke may leave only minor effects such as weakness of an arm or leg, while a larger stroke or one that occurs in a critical brain region may result in the patient being paralyzed on one side or losing the ability to express and process language.

At Sutter Stroke Center, minimizing long-term effects is the focus of care. To that end, rehabilitation begins as soon as the acute phase of a stroke has passed, in keeping with national studies that show patients who participate in recovery activities early on have the greatest chances for full recovery.

Patients treated at Sutter Stroke Center receive initial assessments of motor skills, balance, mobility, emotional state, communication skills, cognitive abilities, continence and functional skills. A coordinated team of medical and rehabilitation stroke experts establish an initial recover plan in conjunction with the hospital's care coordinator who visits the patient and family during the patient's hospital stay. The care coordinator is part of Sutter's Continuum Care Management program, designed to help patients and families understand care and rehabilitation options and make the transition from the hospital setting to the next appropriate level of care.

Objectives

Recovery takes in all aspects of the patient's mental, emotional, physical and functional health and includes steps to:

• Prevent, recognize and manage other medical conditions the patient may have and guard against medical complications


• Begin training for maximum independence, which may include having the patient regain mobility as soon as possible


• Help the patient and family deal with the emotional stress of the emergency and need to adjust and adapt to changes brought about by the stroke


• Guide the patient into activities that promote reintegration into home, work, recreation activities and the larger community


• Provide information and direction to resources, including community programs, assistive devices and rehabilitation techniques that will help patients cope with any residual disabilities


• Prevent recurring strokes or other medical conditions known to occur in stroke patients

Care Facilities and Services

As part of the larger Sutter Health network, Sutter Stroke Center 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. Sutter's Visiting Nurse Association (www.suttervnaandhospice.org) is also available to provide home care services that include visiting nurses, physical, speech and occupational therapy, and medical social workers.

Find Out More

For more information on stroke recovery, see Stroke Rehabilitation in our health information section. In addition, the American Stroke Association offers a series of "Let's Talk About…" write-ups available for download from their Web site (www.strokeassociation.org). The write-ups provide valuable information and cover many of the common questions, issues and concerns patients and family members have.