Neurological care

We have been recognized nationally for stroke care. Our emergency care physicians and neurologists work hand-in-hand to provide fast, lifesaving treatment.

The American Heart Association recognized us with the Get with the Guidelines-Stroke Gold Plus Honor Roll Elite Award. The Joint Commission designated our hospital as the first Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center in Colorado. Patients who undergo this procedure quickly enough after a stroke begins often recover with little to no long-term damage.

The average time from diagnostic testing to completion of an endovascular thrombectomy is less than one hour at our hospital. This means we are able to have a blocked artery open in less than 20 minutes, with patients only needing light sedation.

Stroke symptoms

Knowing the warning signs of a stroke can help save lives. Being able to identify a stroke is one of the most proactive steps you can take toward combating it. Remember the acronym "F.A.S.T." when looking for the warning signs of stroke:

• Face: Is one side of the face drooping?
• Arms: Can they raise both arms? Does one drift downward?
• Speech: Are words slurred? Can they repeat back a simple sentence?
• Time: Time is crucial. If you notice any of these symptoms, call 911, immediately.

Stroke Alert Program

We are proud to participate in the Stroke Alert Program, a program developed in partnership with local emergency medical services (EMS). Stroke Alert allows our physicians and EMS agencies to work together to provide seamless stroke care.

Stroke telemedicine

We use advanced telemedicine technology in our emergency room (ER) to allow you to be assessed almost instantly by a neurologist who specializes in stroke care. As a result, our ER physicians are able to work quickly to treat you if you arrive at our hospital with stroke symptoms, reducing the long-term impacts of stroke.

Our surgical team is a leader in neuro-oncology, using innovative treatment methods to evaluate, diagnose and remove brain and spinal cord tumors. In partnership with our hospital's oncology program, we also offer access to neuro-oncology clinical trials.

Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT)

LITT is a state-of-the-art, minimally invasive surgical technique for treating brain tumors. It allows neurosurgeons to gently and precisely use a robotically-driven laser to destroy tumor tissue using real-time MRI guidance.

LITT is beneficial for the following reasons:

• It provides a leading-edge option for inoperable or recurrent brain tumors, radiation necrosis or tumors in medically-fragile patients.
• Being a minimally invasive procedure with an incision smaller than a centimeter, it offers shorter recovery times.
• It often is a same-day surgery, meaning you don't even need to spend the night in the hospital.
• Using real-time MRI thermography allows the neurosurgeon to monitor tissue temperature while robotically steering laser light to ablate (destroy) unwanted tissue.
• It is typically covered by insurance.

Our multidisciplinary spine care team includes specialists from orthopedic care and neurological care, allowing us to treat a wide spectrum of back, neck and spine conditions. We are designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery by Blue Cross Blue Shield and we were named to Becker's list of 101 Hospitals with Great Spine and Neurosurgery Programs.

Robot-assisted spine surgery

We stay at the forefront of surgical technology and use advanced techniques to provide the best outcomes possible for our patients. One example of this innovation is our use of minimally invasive robot-assisted technology for spine treatments. With this surgical technology, our spine surgeons can preplan procedures to your exact anatomy, operate through small incisions and place hardware with extreme precision.

Preoperative spine surgery education

Additionally, we provide a preoperative spine surgery class when spine surgery is necessary. This class helps you learn how to prepare for your surgery and recovery.

Our hospital provides physical therapy and rehabilitation services to help patients recover from spine surgeries, traumatic brain injuries, strokes and other neurological conditions and procedures. Your neurorehabilitation regimen begins as soon as possible to help you get moving safely and comfortably.

Swedish Medical Center is a national leader in the area of neurosciences. Featuring clinical depth and a team of experts, combined with unparalleled outcomes, Swedish has become the gold standard in stroke, neurology and neurosurgical care.

The Swedish Neuro Network leverages the quality and capabilities of Swedish with stroke/neuro care at five other HealthONE acute care hospitals for the benefit of patients throughout the Rocky Mountain region. Services are available at:

• Swedish Medical Center
• North Suburban Medical Center
• Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center
• Rose Medical Center
• Sky Ridge Medical Center
• The Medical Center of Aurora