Stroke Center
A stroke is a medical emergency that can catch you by surprise. It may cause symptoms such as confusion and an inability to talk or move on one side of your body. During a stroke, blood vessels restrict blood flow to your brain. It’s important to get the right medical help quickly to prevent serious brain damage or death.
If you or a loved one is having a stroke Providence St. Patrick Hospital provides immediate care to minimize further damage.
Our Stroke Center exceeds national quality guidelines for stroke care and is a Joint Commission certified Advanced Primary Stroke Center. We have earned the Target Gold Plus performance award from the American Stroke Association.
Our 24-hour on-call stroke team experts include emergency physicians, nurses and therapists, neurologists, interventional radiologists, neurosurgeons, cardiologists, pharmacists, and other specialists who work with lifesaving speed to diagnose and treat a new stroke.
We are proud to have performed the first clot retrieval for stroke in Montana. Since 2011 our Stroke Center has provided this life saving procedure 24/7 to serve patients in our community.
If a severe stroke does cause your brain to be damaged, you won’t be alone — our stroke rehabilitation team will help you manage and work through setbacks.
Our stroke team of doctors, nurses, radiologists, technicians, and therapists provide the care you need, including:
- Emergency strokes services with stroke experts available around the clock, seven days a week to immediately evaluate symptoms and rapidly diagnose and treat.
- Inpatient stroke unit with a dedicated team of stroke care nurses and specialists to care for you.
- Telestroke neurologist services to rapidly assess and determine best course of treatment.
- Thrombolytic or “clot busting” drugs to dissolve blood clots and potentially stop a stroke.
- Endovascular treatments using advanced nonsurgical and surgical techniques for blood clot removal from the brain.
- Physiatry and rehabilitation therapy provided to help you regain or strengthen your balance, physical mobility, speech, and other functions that can be limited after a stroke.
At Providence St. Patrick Hospital, we routinely achieve exceptional stroke outcomes as noted in publicly reported data and https://qualitynearme.heart.org/GWTGPublicReporting
When a stroke happens, don’t delay seeking help. Fast response provides the best chance for recovery and quality of life after a stroke.
Call 911 or be taken to the hospital immediately for these symptoms:
- Double or blurred vision
- Drooping or paralysis on one side of the face
- Loss of sight in one eye
- Mental confusion and trouble thinking or communicating
- Numb, paralyzed or weak arm or leg
- Poor balance and clumsiness
- Slurred speech
- Sudden, severe headache
Certain risk factors increase your chances of both stroke and heart disease. Talk to your doctor or primary health care provider about regular health screening, including these lab tests:
- Blood pressure
- Cholesterol levels
- Fasting blood sugars
To lower your risk:
- Exercise at least 30 minutes a day most days of the week
- Avoid or limit alcohol to light or moderate drinking
- Plan balanced, nutritious meals
- Manage your weight
- Educate yourself and others about stroke
These organizations offer additional information and resources:
- Montana Stroke Survivor Connections
- Brain Injury Alliance-Stroke
- American Stroke Association
- Montana Neuroscience Institute
- International Heart Institute
- Montana Stroke Initiative
To learn more, contact us at Providence St. Patrick Hospital. Call 406-543-7271.
Providence specialists who may help you with stroke care include:
- Neurologist
- Emergency medicine expert
- Interventional radiologist
- Intensivist
- Hospitalist
- Neurosurgeon
- Cardiologist
- Chaplain
- Nurse practitioner
- Occupational therapist
- Pharmacist
- Physiatrist
- Physical therapist
- Registered nurse
- Registered dietitian
- Respiratory therapist
- Social worker
- Speech/language pathologist
Recognition
U.S. News & World Report - High Performing Hospital in Stroke (2024-25)
American Heart Association Get with the Guidelines® - Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Target: Type 2 Diabetes℠ Honor Roll (2023)
Joint Commission with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association - Primary Stroke Center
Stroke Center Videos
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DAWN Trial
On this week's HealthBreak, Dr. Mark Elliott talks about the DAWN Trial that has shown there is significant advantage to treating stroke patients more than 6 hours after onset, thanks to imaging only available in Montana at Providence St. Patrick Hospital.
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Recognize Stroke: BEFAST
Identifying the early warning signs of a stroke can help the victim receive early care and improve the chances of a good outcome. Dr. John Schaeffer describes the symptoms to watch for.
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Stroke Survivor Experience
Mark Phares shares his experience of being cared for at St. Patrick Hospital and how surviving a stroke has changed his life.
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Telestroke
Dan Pierce, MD at Providence St. Patrick Hospital - a primary stroke center in Missoula, Montana - talks about the TeleStroke system that allows for earlier diagnosis and treatment of stroke.