Primary Stroke Center - Monongahela

Penn Highlands Mon Valley is a Joint Commission Accredited Primary Stroke Center.

At Penn Highlands Mon Valley, you can expect prompt care that is consistent with the latest scientific guidelines from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association. PH Mon Valley received the organizations’ Get With The Guidelines — Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll Achievement Award Hospital. Our achievement means that patients benefit when it matters most and our hospital is committed to quality improvement.

Patients who come to the PH Mon Valley Emergency Department with signs and symptoms of stroke can be assessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by a stroke neurologist via computer interaction. This enables the stroke neurologist and Emergency Department physicians to develop the best plan of care for each individual patient.

Anyone suspected of a stroke must be treated as soon as possible! If you suspect someone is having a stroke call 9-1-1 at once!

A stroke occurs when there is an interruption of the blood supply to a part of the brain, either by blockage of a vessel or rupture of a blood vessel. This interruption of blood supply causes a part of the brain to become damaged and die. The effects of a stroke can be minimal or catastrophic depending on the size and location.

The area of the brain affected by a stroke will determine what particular area of the body is affected. Different areas of the brain control different body functions, the left side of the brain affects the right side of the body and right side of the brain affects the left side of the body.

Some signs and symptoms of a stroke can be:

• Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Sudden change in vision in one or both eyes
• Slurred speech, trouble speaking or difficulty understanding speech
• Sudden dizziness, loss of balance or coordination difficulty walking
• Severe unexplained headache