Sudden weakness, numbness, or problems with walking or speech are all possible signs of stroke. If you notice any of these signs in yourself or a loved one, the next three hours are critical. Stroke patients have the best chance of recovery if they get the right diagnosis and treatment within three hours.

Washington Regional provides 24/7 in-person stroke care in Northwest Arkansas and proudly participates in the IDHI Stroke Program, formerly AR SAVES (Stroke Assistance Through Virtual Emergency Support). Our experts provide consults to other Arkansas hospitals via telemedicine for the IDHI Stroke Program, helping those providers quickly and accurately evaluate stroke patients, administer appropriate lifesaving medication and facilitate transfer to our facility when needed.

This timely treatment can improve an ischemic stroke victim’s chance of living without a major, costly disability. Even when rushed to their local hospital emergency department, many stroke patients still are at high risk of death or permanent disability because emergency departments typically aren't staffed by a neurologist who can diagnose the type of stroke and whether to treat it with t-PA, the blood-clot dissolving agent used for ischemic stroke. A 2021 study found that patients who receive treatment within 1 hour of arrival to the emergency department had a 38% reduced risk of mortality at 30-days. Telemedicine programs aim to increase the coverage of stroke expert care in our rural communities. Visit CDC.gov or the American Stroke Association for the latest stroke information.