Stroke program

In an instant, a stroke can change the course of your life, causing weakness, the inability to speak, or paralysis on one side of the body, short-term memory loss, balance problems and even death.

Our stroke program at Northbay Health Northbay Medical Center and Northbay Health VacaValley Hospital offers a rapid-response stroke team, comprised of Emergency Department physicians, neurologists, specially trained nurses and other critical support staff. The stroke team quickly evaluates and treats patients utilizing the latest in leading-edge diagnostic, treatment and interventional techniques. Patients who receive rapid treatment have a better chance for survival, and suffer less permanent damage.

Robots at the ready

When an ED physician signals a stroke alert, a call is made to UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento and a telehealth robot rolls to the patient’s bedside. It carries with it all the technology needed to give UC Davis stroke experts real-time information so they can collaborate with Northbay Health physicians at the patient’s bedside for a quick diagnosis.

The road to recovery

The length of time a stroke patient remains in the hospital depends upon the type and severity of the brain injury. Within 24 hours of hospital admission, a rehabilitation therapist evaluates the patient’s level of neurological damage, cognitive abilities and muscle strength and tone. Some patients who have had a small stroke may find their symptoms resolve in a few days. However, if many bodily or cognitive functions have been affected, it’s an indication of greater brain damage and the patient may have residual effects for months, or for the rest of their life. How the brain heals depends on the level of damage caused by the stroke. Learn more about rehabilitation services at Northbay Health.

New Beginnings Support Group

The New Beginnings Support Group is for stroke survivors, caregivers, family members and friends. This group meets on the third Monday of each month from 10–11:30 am at the Northbay VacaValley Health Plaza, 1010 Nut Tree Road, Suite 240 in Vacaville.

The group provides a great opportunity for members to get the support from people who understand what they’ve been through. For more information, email Elizabeth Gladney at egladney@northbay.org or call 707-646-4034.

Call 911 immediately if you experience or witness any of the following signs:

• Numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• Severe headache with no known cause