Comprehensive Stroke Center at Mercy Hospital of Buffalo

Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke. And when it happens, it's scary – both for the patient and their loved ones who may be left feeling overwhelmed and underprepared.

The Comprehensive Stroke Center at Mercy Hospital of Buffalo is the Western New York region's hub for quality stroke care. Mercy Hospital is certified by the Joint Commission as a Comprehensive Stroke Center (CSC), a recognition given to a select number of American hospitals with the abilities to receive and treat the most complex stroke cases.

Presented in conjunction with the Advanced Certification for Comprehensive Stroke Centers from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association, we are the only stroke center in Buffalo that has received the nation's highest and most-demanding designation. Meaning, stroke patients at Mercy Hospital can expect:

  • Improved quality of care
  • A higher standard of service
  • Performance of more involved surgical procedures
  • Advanced CT and MRI capabilities
  • State-of-the-art facilities
  • A dedicated neurocritical care unit that provides care 24 hours a day, seven days a week

Our team provides a comprehensive approach to stroke care before, during, and after a patient's suffering from a stroke, with a commitment to preventive, emergency, and rehabilitative care.

Why Choose Mercy Hospital for Stroke Care?

At Mercy Hospital of Buffalo, the stroke team is focused on making sure each patient has the best possible outcome they can. No one expects to have a stroke, which is why our team of skilled professionals is on hand every day to ensure access to quick, quality care.

Here, the commitment to "comprehensive" goes beyond the cutting-edge treatment we provide for our stroke patients. There's an equal emphasis on post-stroke care and neurologic rehabilitation, using your condition prior to stroke as a baseline to understand what we can do to better treat you. At the end of the day, it's all about quality of life – you are our standard for the right way to care. 

Advanced Stroke Treatment Provided at Mercy Hospital of Buffalo

Accepting the most severe cases from other stroke centers in the region, our team of neurosurgeons, neurologists, radiologists, nurses, and other specializing physicians work together to provide top-of-the-line care for the full spectrum of stroke symptoms and stroke-related cases.

  • Carotid endarterectomy– A surgeon opens the carotid artery, removes plaque and sutures the artery to close the incision.
  • Cerebral bypass– A procedure where blood is rerouted through a healthy artery instead of the blocked artery, to increase blood flow to the brain. 
  • Clipping/coiling– A device is inserted into the blood vessel to discourage blood from flowing into an unruptured aneurysm, to prevent a hemorrhagic stroke from occurring.
  • Hemicraniectomy– Procedure to relieve pressure within the brain once a stroke has occurred by removing a bone flap from the skull. 
  • Mechanical thrombectomy– A non-invasive procedure using a catheter where a surgeon places a stent to open a clogged blood vessel. 
  • Thrombolytic therapy– Dangerous blood clots can be dissolved with "clot-busting" drugs, if administered within a specific time frame after symptom onset. 

Inpatient Stroke Care

During your stay with us, the Mercy Hospital Comprehensive Stroke Center is committed to providing patients with compassionate, individualized care that begins as soon as you enter our emergency department, and extends through your inpatient stay and rehabilitation.

Our stroke patients are cared for in a dedicated stroke unit or neurocritical care unit, depending on their progress. Medical research has shown that having a specific department built around your condition can improve patient outcomes, decrease risk for potential complications, and reduce the amount of time spent in the hospital.

Our team is comprised of some of the region's best neurologists, neurosurgeons, and specialist nurses who provide your acute care, working alongside stroke recovery experts, including physical and occupational therapists, speech and language pathologists, and rehabilitation specialists. We're all working together to achieve a common goal – so you can have the best possible recovery.

 

Best Practices Measures

Mercy Hospital exceeds the national average in a number of measures that are recommended by the American Heart Association / American Stroke Association for the prevention and treatment of stroke. The table below shows our compliance with some of these best practice measures as compared to other comprehensive stroke centers across the nation.

Stroke Survey Results

Mercy Hospital of Buffalo strives to provide the best possible care to our patients. Surveys are administered to all patients who received their stroke care at our hospital. In 2023, over 600 patients responded to the survey. 100% of these patients indicated that they would recommend Mercy Hospital for their stroke care.

 

Interventional Procedures - Carotid Endarterectomy

Carotid endarterectomy is a procedure performed to treat carotid artery disease. If these arteries are narrowed with plaque, blood flow to the brain can be reduced and cause a stroke. The procedure helps to prevent stroke in patients with carotid artery disease. In this procedure, an incision is made in the artery of the neck and the plaque is removed. 

Nationally, the serious complication rate for all carotid endarterectomy procedures is 1.4%. At Mercy Hospital of Buffalo, there have been no patients experiencing serious complications from this procedure.