Advanced Primary Stroke Center

Nationally Certified as a Center of Excellence for Stroke Care

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in Kansas, and the number one cause of adult disability nationwide. To improve outcomes for stroke patients, LMH Health is committed to best practices for high quality, rapid response diagnosis and patient care. That’s why, in 2012, LMH Health became the second community hospital in Kansas to earn certification from The Joint Commission as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center. Through this certification, LMH Health is nationally recognized as a center of excellence for stroke care.

To receive and maintain our Advanced Primary Stroke Center designation, LMH Health demonstrates proficiency in stroke care and meets the following standards of excellence:

• We offer a dedicated stroke-focused program, which includes:
  1. Direct communication with EMS technicians that enables our physicians to diagnose a stroke while the patient is still en route to the hospital
  2. CT scanners and technicians ready to receive patients on arrival – at LMH, we use state-of-the-art dual source flash CT scanners to achieve superior image quality and test accuracy while also reducing the amount of radiation patients receive from CT scans.
  3. Diagnosing patients with type of stroke and administering proper treatment within 60 minutes of arrival
• Our Advanced Primary Stroke Center is staffed by qualified medical professionals who are well trained in stroke care and stay up-to-date through stroke-related continuing education each year
• We provide individualized care to meet stroke patients’ needs
• We encourage and support patient involvement in their hospital care
• We coordinate post-discharge patient self-care based on recommendations of the Brain Attack Coalition and guidelines published by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association
• Streamlined flow of patient information while protecting patient rights, security and privacy We collect the hospital’s stroke-treatment performance data and hospital team performance data
• We use the data to assess and continually improve quality of care for our stroke patients

Award-Winning Stroke Care Excellence

LMH Health is a proud recipient of the  American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's (AHA/ASA) Get With The Guidelines® Stroke SilverPlus Achievement Award. LMH also qualified to be recognized as a recipient of the AHA/ASA's Target: Stroke Elite Plus Honor Roll Award. This recognition underscores our hospital’s ability to provide prompt, effective and high-quality care for all stroke patients. According to the AHA/ASA, our commitment to following the most up-to-date treatment guidelines means our stroke patients have better survival rates and lower risks of suffering more strokes. With a Primary Stroke Center at LMH Health, patients in and around Lawrence can rest assured the best stroke treatment available is provided right here in their own community. For general information about stroke care at LMH, call 785-505-5000.

Stroke Rehabilitation

At LMH Health’s Center for Rehabilitation, patients affected by stroke or other debilitating conditions find hope and help for returning safely to their activities of daily living. The Center for Rehabilitation is an acute, nine-bed rehabilitation unit. Staffed by physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, social workers and round-the-clock nurses specially trained in rehabilitation, the Center relies on a strong interdisciplinary approach to recovery. Physicians work closely with Center staff through daily updates and weekly team meetings to create and oversee each patient’s treatment plan and discharge plan.

For more information about stroke rehabilitation at LMH Health, call 785-505-6470.

Stroke Support Group

If you or a loved one has had a stroke, join us in sharing experiences and ideas about life changes brought on by stroke. Monthly meetings often include informal presentations about treatments and services available for stroke survivors and their loved ones. Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the month at 4:00 p.m. in the lower level of Lawrence Memorial Hospital. Patients, friends and family are all welcome to attend. For more information, please call LMH Health Therapy Services at 785-505-2712.

B.E.F.A.S.T.: Knowing the Signs of Stroke Saves Lives