Neurology Services at Banner - University Medical Center Tucson

In 2019, Banner - University Medical Center became the first Joint Commission certified Comprehensive Stroke Center in Southern Arizona. The mission of the Stroke Center is to provide age appropriate, culturally sensitive, evidence-based stroke care; to individualize care to meet the needs of each patient and family; to collaborate with other health care professionals and ancillary services to achieve the best outcomes; and to engage in clinical stroke research.

Banner - University Medical Center Tucson in partnership with the University of Arizona provides comprehensive and coordinated stroke care for members of our community. As the only academic medical center in Southern Arizona, we have assembled a multidisciplinary team to provide state of the art management of patients with stroke and cerebrovascular diseases.

Hospital Services for Comprehensive Stroke Care

At Banner - University Medical Center Tucson, we are dedicated to providing the best care and treatment for patients with stroke and cerebrovascular disease. Our stroke care begins in the emergency room and extends throughout your hospital stay. The Banner - University Medical Center Tucson Stroke Program brings together the combined expertise of a multidisciplinary team, including stroke neurologists, neurocritical care specialists, neurosurgeons, vascular surgeons, neuroradiologists, emergency physicians, therapists, pharmacists and specialty trained nurses. Available services include administration of intravenous alteplase (clot-busting medicine) and mechanical clot retrieval for acute ischemic stroke, neurosurgical and vascular procedures, medication management for stroke prevention, and rehabilitation services.

Banner - University Medical Center Tucson has a dedicated stroke unit and neurocritical care unit, and a cutting-edge neuroimaging center which includes multimodal CT scanning, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance angiography, digital angiography, as well as carotid Duplex and Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound.

As a Joint Commission Certified Comprehensive Stroke Program, we utilize specific stroke protocols and monitor our outcomes to meet performance measures of success. Our stroke program has been recognized by the American Heart/ American Stroke Association for our care and outcomes with the Gold Plus Target Stroke Honor Roll. View our 2020/2021 Stroke Program Overview Data.

Outpatient (Clinic) Services for Stroke

Banner - University Medical Center Tucson coordinates care through our dedicated Stroke Clinics at our brand-new North Campus clinic facility. Patients are referred to the Stroke Clinic for stroke-like symptoms, stroke prevention, follow-up care after discharge from the hospital, or for stroke rehabilitation. Our Stroke Nurse Navigator facilitates all aspects of care coordination.

Education

The Stroke Program provides education to the patient, family/caregivers, healthcare professionals, and the community. Patient education begins in the hospital and focuses on knowledge of their current condition, risk factors for stroke and TIA, and their readiness for discharge. BUMCT offers stroke education events for the public and provides ongoing stroke education for healthcare professionals. The Stroke Program also provides stroke-specific training opportunities for medical students, residents, fellows, and nurses.