Stroke Program

In the event of stroke, no one fights harder for you than McLaren Flint. And to prove it we have earned one of the most prestigious designations possible: certification as a Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission. To receive this certification, hospitals must undergo a rigorous evaluation and demonstrate compliance with nationally developed standards for stroke care. The research is clear: Patients treated at certified stroke centers, like McLaren Flint, experience better outcomes, including longer lives and fewer disabilities.

At McLaren Flint, our stroke program is comprehensive and offers intensive, critical and acute care services to patients, as well as inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services. In addition, our neurological specialists and staff members use a multidisciplinary approach to ensure each stroke patient receives the treatment that’s right for him or her.

Serious Care for a Serious Condition

Stroke can kill-and quickly. So, when one strikes, it has to be taken seriously and addressed immediately. Stroke occurs when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain either ruptures or is blocked by a clot. And when this happens, parts of the brain do not receive enough oxygen and begin to die. With stroke, nothing is more critical than time. The quicker it is treated and blood flow is restored to the brain, the greater the chance for survival and recovery.

If you or your loved one experiences a stroke, you can depend on us to offer comprehensive care, a multidisciplinary team of physicians and leading-edge services found nowhere else in the region. 

Know Your Stroke Risk

There are several risk factors for stroke. Some of these you can control, and some you cannot. Do you know if you are at risk for stroke?

Uncontrollable Risk Factors

Age: The chance of having a stroke approximately doubles for each decade of life after age 55.

Family history: Your stroke risk is greater if a parent, grandparent, sister of brother has had a stroke.

Race/ethnicity: African-Americans are at much higher risk of death from a stroke.

Gender: Stroke is more common in men than in women. However, more than half of total stroke deaths occur in females.

Prior stroke or heart attack: You are at greater risk if you have had a prior stroke or heart attack.

Controllable Risk Factors

• High blood pressure
• Cigarette smoking
• Diabetes
• Carotid or other artery disease
• Atrial fibrillation other heart disease
• Sickle cell disease
• High blood cholesterol
• Poor diet
• Physical inactivity and obesity

It is important to recognize the signs of a stroke and seek help immediately

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

Take action in an emergency.

• Not all the warning signs occur in every stroke. Don't ignore signs of stroke, even if they go away!
• Check the time. When did the first warning sign or symptom start? You'll be asked this important question later.
• If you have one or more stroke symptoms that last more than a few minutes, don't delay! Immediately call 9-1-1 or the emergency medical service (EMS) number so an ambulance (ideally with advanced life support) can quickly be sent for you.
• If you're with someone who may be having stroke symptoms, immediately call 9-1-1 or the EMS. Expect the person to protest - denial is common. Don't take "no" for an answer. Insist on taking prompt action.

McLaren Stroke Program-Flint, Michigan
McLaren Flint
401 S. Ballenger Hwy., Flint, MI 48532

Stroke Program Coordinator
(810) 342-2964