Stroke Care in New Jersey
A stroke can happen to anyone at any age – and getting fast, expert treatment is critical. As the most comprehensive network in New Jersey, Hackensack Meridian Health gives you access to life-saving treatments closer to home.
Caring for thousands of stroke patients throughout New Jersey annually, our three Comprehensive Stroke Centers and nine Primary Stroke Centers are certified by the Joint Commission (TJC) and licensed by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDOHSS).
Our Specialized Stroke Care Centers
We offer stroke care at several locations throughout New Jersey such as:- Hackensack University Medical Center in Paramus, NJ
- JFK University Medical Centerin Edison, NJ
- Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, NJ
Stroke Risk Factors
- Diabetes
- Gender (Stroke is more common in men)
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- If you are over the age 55
- Obesity/poor diet
- Personal or family history of stroke or heart disease
- Physical inactivity
- Race (African Americans are twice as likely to die from stroke than Caucasians)
- Smoking
Call 911 immediately if you or someone you know experience any of the following symptoms of stroke
- Difficulty speaking or understanding
- Dizziness, balance problems, or difficulty walking
- Sudden severe headache
- Sudden vision changes
- Sudden weakness or numbness, especially on one side of the body
Are You Heart Healthy?
Assess your risk for heart disease and stroke with AngioScreen.
Types of Strokes We Treat
- Hemorrhagic (bleeding) stroke, including intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage, caused by a ruptured blood vessel in the brain.
- Ischemic stroke, caused by a clot blocking blood flow to the brain. We deliver emergency clot-busting treatments, like tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and mechanical thrombectomy, faster than the national standard, giving you the best chance of a full recovery.
- Transient ischemic attack (TIA), also called a mini-stroke, a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain that causes stroke-like symptoms. If you have a mini-stroke, it may be a warning sign that a stroke is coming – and our experts throughout New Jersey can help you lower that risk.
Get the Right Stroke Treatment Faster
The faster a stroke patient gets emergency care, the better the outcome. We offer 12 high level stroke centers in hospitals across New Jersey, providing expert stroke care therapies and featuring:- 24/7 coverage by our rapid-response stroke team comprised of a nurse practitioner or R.N. and a neurologist to ensure that treatment begins as soon as possible
- Access to medication that can be administered within the three-hour window
- 24/7 access to comprehensive diagnostic equipment including laboratory testing and CT Scan
Recognized for Our Stroke Expertise
Our team of emergency medicine physicians, neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, nurses and other specialists provide high level of care for even the most severe strokes.- Hackensack University Medical Center, JFK University Medical Center and Jersey Shore University Medical Center are designated Comprehensive Stroke Centers by the Joint Commission and New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, which is the highest level of certification for hospitals equipped to receive and treat the most complex stroke cases.
- Nine of our regional hospitals are nationally-accredited as Primary Stroke Centers by the Joint Commission and New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services: Bayshore Medical Center; Mountainside Medical Center; Ocean University Medical Center; Old Bridge Medical Center; Packsack Valley Medical Center; Palisades Medical Center; Raritan Bay Medical Center; Riverview Medical Center; and Southern Ocean Medical Center.
- Eight Hackensack Meridian hospitals have been awarded the American Heart Association / American Stroke Association Get With The Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus Award.
- JFK University Medical Center and Jersey Shore University Medical Center consecutively receive Healthgrades’ America's 100 Best Hospitals for Stroke Care Award from Healthgrades.
- Hackensack University Medical Center, Ocean University Medical Center and Riverview Medical Center received the Stroke Care Excellence Award in 2024 from Healthgrades.
Learn more about why you should choose Hackensack Meridian Health for stroke care.
Frequently Asked Questions
The sooner a stroke is treated, the better the outcome. Hackensack Meridian Health's stroke teams are available 24/7, offering rapid-response care with neurologists and nurses ready to deliver clot-busting medications within the critical three-hour window. Quick access to CT scans and lab tests helps start life-saving treatment right away.
Hackensack Meridian Health provides advanced stroke care at three Comprehensive Stroke Centers — Hackensack University Medical Center, JFK University Medical Center, and Jersey Shore University Medical Center. Each location is certified by the Joint Commission and the New Jersey Department of Health to deliver expert treatment for even the most complex stroke cases in their respective New Jersey regions.
We treat a variety of strokes such as:
- Ischemic strokes: caused by a blood clot, doctors may use medication like tPA or perform a mechanical thrombectomy to restore blood flow.
- Hemorrhagic strokes: caused by bleeding in the brain, is treated by controlling the bleeding and reducing pressure.
- Mini-strokes: also called a transient ischemic attack (TIA), which is often a warning sign that needs urgent care to prevent a major stroke.
Hackensack Meridian Health is recognized for providing top-level stroke care through a highly skilled team of physicians, neurologists, and nurses. Hackensack University Medical Center, JFK University Medical Center, and Jersey Shore University Medical Center are certified Comprehensive Stroke Centers.
We feature nine additional new jersey hospitals that are accredited as Primary Stroke Centers. Many of our locations have also earned national honors, including the American Heart Association’s Gold Plus Award and multiple Healthgrades excellence awards.
