Stroke: Comprehensive 24/7 stroke care

Strokes happen when a clot blocks an artery in your brain or when a blood vessel breaks. A stroke prevents your brain from getting the blood and oxygen it needs.

If you experience the symptoms of a stroke, you should seek medical care immediately by calling 911. It’s important to stop any bleeding or remove a blood clot right away to minimize brain damage.

UW Health provides expert stroke care through a coordinated regional system to deliver rapid diagnosis, advanced treatment and comprehensive recovery services for patients of all ages.

Knowing the signs and symptoms of a stroke is the best way to ensure you get the care you need. For every minute a stroke goes untreated, nearly 2 million neurons in your brain die. This can affect speech, movement, memory and more. Quick treatments save lives or prevent disabilities. Even if symptoms lessen or go away, you should get help right away.

When you come to UW Health, we do everything we can to stop or slow the effects of a brain blockage or bleed. We provide ultra-rapid initial diagnosis and treatment.

Our Comprehensive Stroke Center at University Hospital and Acute Stroke Ready Hospital at East Madison Hospital provide acute treatment for ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. The vascular surgeons, neurologists, neuro-interventionalists, neuroradiologists and neurosurgeons on the stroke team quickly assess your condition and provide the right treatment.

The stroke program at UW Health offers expert care and a wide range of services.

The University Hospital Comprehensive Stroke Center was the first hospital in Wisconsin to achieve Comprehensive Stroke Center certification from The Joint Commission, meaning we meet the highest levels of care to speed recovery and reduce the risk of death. Our Comprehensive Stroke Center at University Hospital also received the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award.

Our program at East Madison Hospital has been certified as an Acute Stroke Ready Hospital by The Joint Commission, allowing for faster response times for treating people experiencing a stroke on the east side of Madison and Dane County. The Acute Stroke Ready Hospital at East Madison Hospital received the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association Get With the Guidelines- Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award.

Our Emergency Department and medical flight teams are trained to provide immediate care for stroke to stop brain damage. We provide access to lifesaving services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Patients receive education on managing their health and schedule a follow-up visit before leaving the hospital.

We provide a wide range of support services for you, your family and the community. Education programs help community members recognize stroke symptoms and understand when immediate emergency care is needed. We teach children and adults how to recognize the signs of stroke and when to get immediate medical help. We also offer support groups for survivors and our preventive programs help you reduce your risk for aneurysm and stroke.

The stroke team at UW Health includes experts in neurology and neurosurgery. All UW Health doctors and nurses know the signs of stroke and are committed to providing immediate care.

Refer a patient

For patients with acute stroke symptoms, call the UW Health Access Center 24 hours a day. Our team can coordinate consultations with neurologists and neurosurgeons, arrange transport and facilitate rapid transfer when advanced stroke care is needed.

Access Center
(608) 263-3260 or (800) 472-0111