AHN Stroke Centers

AHN Stroke Center treatment and recovery

A stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is interrupted or reduced, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients. This can cause brain cells to die within minutes. Most strokes are ischemic strokes, caused by a blockage in a blood vessel supplying the brain. Less commonly, strokes can be hemorrhagic strokes, which occur when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures and bleeds.

Knowing about stroke warning signs and treatment is crucial to minimize brain damage and improve recovery, regardless of the type of stroke. When seeking care for in the event of a stroke, patients often look for the difference AHN offers and includes:

• Nationally recognized excellence: AHN hospitals are consistently recognized for their high standards in stroke care, demonstrating our commitment to quality and patient safety.
• Rapid response system: Time is critical in stroke treatment. Our emergency medical services and hospital teams are trained to quickly identify stroke symptoms and initiate immediate, lifesaving interventions.
• Multidisciplinary team approach: Your care team includes neurologists, neurosurgeons, emergency medicine physicians, neuroradiologists, critical care specialists, rehabilitation therapists, nurses, social workers, and stroke navigators all collaborating to provide personalized care.
• Patient and family education: We believe in empowering patients and their families with knowledge about stroke prevention, recovery, and ongoing management.

Advanced treatment options

The AHN Stroke Centers offer advanced treatment options that offer integrative approaches focused on the different aspects of a stroke. These treatment options often include:

• Thrombolytic therapy (tPA or TNK): A medication that can dissolve blood clots causing ischemic strokes, when administered within a specific time frame.
• Endovascular procedures: Minimally invasive techniques performed from inside blood vessels, such as mechanical thrombectomy to remove large blood clots for ischemic strokes. Our experts also utilize advanced endovascular coiling and embolization techniques to treat brain aneurysms and other hemorrhagic diseases, preventing or stopping bleeding in the brain.
• Neurosurgical interventions: For specific types of stroke, our neurosurgeons are equipped to perform complex procedures.
• Comprehensive rehabilitation: Our dedicated rehabilitation specialists, including physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists, work closely with patients to regain lost function and improve their quality of life. Rehabilitation begins early in the recovery process and continues as needed.

Stages of recovery after stroke

Stroke recovery looks different for each person. Everyone will go at their own pace with the help of your AHN care team who will help you navigate your personalized treatment. However, there are general stages of recovery most people experience.

Right after the stroke

The first few hours and through the initial days after the stroke are the emergency stage when doctors work quickly to save lives and prevent more harm. Nurses and doctors constantly check the person's body and brain to make sure no new problems come up (like swelling or seizures. As soon as it's safe, caregivers help the person move a little bit, or change their position in bed. This helps stop problems like bedsores or stiff muscles.

Getting stronger

Patients make the biggest improvements during the first few weeks to months after their stroke. They work hard in special therapy programs. Many people move to a special hospital just for rehab. There, they get hours of therapy each day, focusing on:

• Physical therapy (PT): This is used to get strength, balance, and walking back after a stroke.
• Occupational therapy (OT): OT is an important step that aids in relearning daily tasks like dressing, eating, and other hand skills.
• Speech therapy (SLP): Post-stroke, patients often need assistance with talking, understanding, swallowing, and thinking skills.
• Brain healing: The brain starts to heal itself, swelling goes down, and other parts of the brain try to take over what was damaged. This natural healing often slows down after about three to six months.

Long-term recovery

Getting better keeps going for months or possibly years after the intense therapy. This stage often involves ongoing therapy and learning new ways to do things, like using a walker or getting back to hobbies.

For stroke recovery, it's important to start therapy early, practice often, and have good support from family and doctors. Setting personal goals for what you want to achieve also makes a big difference.

AHN Stroke Center specialists

The AHN Stroke Center’s team of dedicated neurologists, doctors, specialized healthcare providers, and rehabilitation experts are focused on providing the most advanced and comprehensive care for our patients.

How to get care

If you want to get tested for or have been diagnosed with a stroke, we’re here to help.

Schedule your appointment today

To see an AHN stroke specialist for follow-up care, schedule an appointment by calling the office nearest you:

• Pittsburgh: Allegheny General Hospital: 412-359-8850
• Monroeville: Forbes Hospital: 412-858-7766
• Jefferson Hills: Jefferson Hospital: 412-267-6360
• Washington, PA: Chestnut Place Professional Building: 412-228-1414

Looking for a new doctor or specialist?

Call (412) DOCTORS 412-362-8677 and we’ll help you find a primary care physician (PCP) or specialist in your area and book your first appointment.

AHN Primary Stroke Centers

Comprehensive Stroke Center

Allegheny General Hospital
320 East North Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
GET DIRECTIONS

What to expect at your new patient visit

When you receive care at the AHN Neuroscience Institute, you’ll be seen by board-certified neurologists, neurosurgeons, and pain management physicians who can deliver highly specialized treatments using the latest, most advanced technologies. We recommend that you bring a trusted friend or family member to attend any appointment, but we do not recommend taking young children who cannot be left unattended in the waiting rooms.

We encourage you to sign up for AHN MyChart access, where you can complete some new patient paperwork and questionnaires through the MyChart web portal or the MyChart app.

Plan to arrive at the check-in desk about 30 minutes prior to the start of your appointment. That will provide enough time for the necessary intake process. Even if you use the eCheck in through MyChart, we ask that you arrive at the check-in desk 30 minutes before the start of your appointment to make sure we have your appropriate information.

What to take to your first visit

We recommend that you bring a trusted friend or family member to attend any appointment, but we do not recommend taking young children who cannot be left unattended in the waiting rooms. There are also certain items and paperwork you’ll want to have with you so our office staff and healthcare team have your necessary information.

Required identification and payment

In order to process your information and start your appointment on time, please bring:

• Insurance cards.
• Photo ID.
• Copay (no cash accepted).

Medical information and records

Please bring copies of previous medical records, including office visit notes, lab work, hospital stay summaries, and radiology reports from outside health organizations. You’ll also want to have a complete list of medications and supplements, including dosing amounts.

For worker’s compensation or auto claim purposes, please have date of injury, claim number, billing address, and the name and phone number of the claims adjuster.

Imaging studies (if applicable)

If you have had imaging studies done at imaging locations outside of Allegheny Health Network, you will need to follow these steps:

• Contact the imaging facility and request a physical disc with the imaging and radiologist report.
• Some sites will require a few days to a week’s notice before you can pick up the disc.
• If you do not have copies of imaging, your initial evaluation will be incomplete, and we may need to schedule additional appointments.

Personal items and equipment (if applicable)

If you will require any personal items or medical equipment — walker, cane, wheelchair, oxygen — that will make your post-procedure care easier, please bring that with you. 

Clinical trials and research

At AHN, we are not only dedicated to providing the best stroke care but also to shaping the future of stroke treatment. Our Stroke Program is actively involved in groundbreaking research and clinical trials, offering eligible patients access to innovative therapies and interventions that are not yet widely available.

Our research efforts span various aspects of stroke, including prevention, acute treatment, and long-term recovery strategies. We are committed to translating new scientific discoveries into improved patient outcomes.

What is a clinical trial?

Clinical trials are studies that try to answer questions about new ways to treat conditions with medications, radiation, or surgical techniques. Previous trials have shown how new methods of treatment improve survival and quality of life.

Participation in clinical trials can provide:

• Access to cutting-edge treatments: Opportunities to receive new medications, devices, or procedures before they are publicly released.
• Close monitoring and expert care: Patients in clinical trials often receive extensive monitoring and specialized attention from our leading stroke experts.
• Contribution to medical knowledge: By participating, you help advance our understanding of stroke and contribute to the development of more effective treatments for others.

Joining a clinical trial

If you are interested in learning more about current stroke research or whether you might be eligible for a clinical trial, please speak with your care team. They can provide information and guidance on these opportunities. You can also search currently active clinical trials that are open for participation.  

Refer your patient to AHN Neurology

If you have a patient that you would like to refer to AHN Neurology, call 412-359-8850. Please fax pertinent records to 412-359-6617.

If you have any questions about independent physician referral, read the Independent Physician Referral FAQs.