Stroke Center

Salem Hospital has received the American Stroke Association’s Get with The Guidelines Silver Plus Quality Achievement Award. The awards recognize our commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of stroke care by ensuring that stroke patients receive treatment according to nationally accepted standards and recommendations.

We are also a designated Stroke Center, which means our emergency department and inpatient units are able to rapidly diagnosis and treat stroke patients and administer brain imaging scans as needed. In collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital neurologists, our physicians conduct patient evaluations and administer clot-busting medications to those who need it.

Face

• Does the person's face look uneven? Ask him or her to smile so you can check to see if it looks crooked.

Arm

• Does one of the person's arm drift down? Ask him or her to raise both arms. If one arm is lower that is a potential sign of a stroke.

Speech

• Does the person's speech sound strange? Ask him or her to say a simple sentence, such as, "The sky is blue." If their words are garbled or senseless that is a strong sign of a stroke.

Time

• If you observe any of these three symptoms, call 9.1.1.