Stroke Center

A stroke is an interruption of the blood supply to any part of the brain. Approximately every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke.

Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases is a division of the Rhode Island Hospital Department of Neurology. Our mission is to provide the highest quality of care for patients with stroke and cerebrovascular disease.

The Stroke Center at Rhode Island Hospital, a Lifespan partner, provides services to more than 900 adult and geriatric patients with suspected transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke annually in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts. As the region's only primary stroke center located within a Level 1 trauma center, Rhode Island Hospital is uniquely qualified to provide the most advanced clinical care to acute stroke patients.

The Stroke Center provides care to patients with stroke regardless of race, color, creed, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or inability to pay and provides organized services to meet the needs of the patients we serve safely and systematically.

Learn more about strokes with our patient guide

Stroke Warning Signs

If you notice one or more of these signs in yourself or someone else, don't wait! Stroke is a medical emergency. Call 9-1-1 immediately.

Learn how to recognize a stroke FAST:

• Face—Drooping on one side of the face
• Arms—Weakness or numbness in one arm
• Speech—Slurred speech
• Time—Saving time saves brain cells

All stroke symptoms are sudden. Do not ignore symptoms even if they go away.

• Call 9-1-1. Care can begin as soon as the ambulance arrives.
• Check the time so you'll know when the stroke started.
• At the hospital, say “I think I'm having a stroke.”