Stroke Treatment

Strokes, or cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs), hospitalize thousands of people each year. The effects can be devastating to the patient and the family. Baylor offers both immediate treatment and advanced rehabilitation to help guide patients back from stroke.

As specialists in treating patients with strokes and other neurological disorders, Baylor has a great deal of successful rehabilitation experience. And we have the dedicated staff, the technology, the equipment, and the specialized programs to help a stroke patient progress toward an independent, productive life.

The Treatment Team
A physiatrist on the medical staff at Baylor (an M.D. specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation) leads our interdisciplinary rehabilitation team. Through frequent contact with the patient and team members, the physiatrist can watch for any complications that may arise and closely monitor the rehabilitation progress to make the program as effective as possible.

The patient's specific needs determine who is on the team. It may include consulting physicians, a program manager, rehabilitation nurses, a physical therapist, an occupational therapist, a respiratory therapist, a speech-language pathologist, a nutrition specialist, a neuropsychologist, a psychologist, a therapeutic recreation specialist, a chaplain, and an adapted driving instructor.

Treatment Setting
Patients receive therapy one on one and in groups. In one-on-one therapy, patients focus on their unique abilities and needs. Groups include patients who have similar deficits and can work on developing the same skills together. For example, a group might focus on money management, upper extremity exercises, or kitchen activities.

Patients also may participate in Community Adjustment Training (CAT), where they practice using their skills outside of the hospital. For example, they might go to dinner, the movies, or even the grocery store.

Treatments Matched to Needs and Abilities
Patients who have had a stroke may show varying degrees of disability, from slight to severe. The type of problems depends on which side of the brain was injured. For example, a person who has had a right-sided stroke may experience difficulties in perception, vision, or memory. A left-sided stroke may result in difficulty with listening, speaking, reading, or writing. Either side can cause weakness or paralysis of the opposite arm and/or leg.

The treatment team evaluates each patient's abilities and then designs an individualized rehabilitation program to help achieve goals. The goals depend on the patient's age, previous health condition, and discharge destination. Each week, the team assesses the progress in terms of medical management, self-care skills, mobility skills, communication and cognition, and discharge planning.

Patient/Family Support
Strong family support helps the rehabilitation process, so the rehabilitation team encourages family members to participate in therapy sessions and in day and evening activities.

Patients and their families may also benefit from support services at Baylor. Individualized counseling by a psychologist is available for patients when necessary. Families may participate in family support group meetings, where they can voice their concerns and discuss coping strategies.

When the Patient Leaves Us
From admission, we work closely with the family and patient to identify options and choose the best environment for the patient after discharge. Some patients require more rehabilitation therapy. These services are offered in the Baylor Rehabilitation System Outpatient Clinics, which are located throughout the metroplex.

In other instances, the program manager might help the family in transferring the patient to an extended-care facility, skilled nursing unit or facility, or home health agency. Baylor Health Care System offers all of these services.

In addition, many former patients and their families have found the Boomerang Club, a community stroke support group, to be very helpful. Working with each other, members learn to deal with the issues they face when they re-enter the community.