UCLA Health Facilities are Leaders in Stroke Care

There are nearly 800,000 strokes in the United States each year or one every 40 seconds.
Stroke is a medical emergency. It can happen to anyone – at any age and any time. The damage from stroke can be enormous and lifelong, affecting a person’s speech, movement, memory and many other functions.
Learning the warning signs of stroke can save lives and ensure that medical help occurs immediately. FAST is an easy way to remember and identify the most common symptoms of a stroke:
F stands for face drooping. Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
A is for arm weakness. Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S stands for speech difficulty. Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is the speech slurred or strange?
T is for time. Time equals brain function during a stroke. If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.
In 2013, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center was certified as a comprehensive stroke center by the Joint Commission, an accrediting agency for hospitals and healthcare organizations, and the American Heart & American Stroke Associations. The certification confirms that the center has met the highest national standards of quality for stroke care.
UCLA Health’s stroke centers represent a collaborative effort between neurology, neurosurgery and interventional and diagnostic neuroradiology, offering stroke patients state-of-the-art facilities and highly skilled specialists, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
As part of a major academic institution, the stroke centers also have been leaders in researching and implementing new ways to treat stroke patients and improve stroke recovery.
UCLA-Santa Clarita Imaging & Interventional Center is committed to providing outstanding patient care by combining excellence in clinical imaging, research and educational programs with state-of-the-art technology. Located at 27235 Tourney Rd., Suite 1500, in Valencia, between Magic Mountain Parkway and Valencia Blvd. Call 661-253-5858.