There are two main types of certifications for hospital stroke programs, which include Comprehensive Stroke Center Hospitals (the highest level of stroke care) and Primary Stroke Center Hospitals (a less advanced level of care). There are only eight Comprehensive Stroke Center Hospitals in all of Georgia, while there are 41 Primary Stroke Center Hospitals. All things being equal, it is often best to go to the nearest Stroke Center Hospital to you no matter which level of certification it has.
Comprehensive Stroke Center Hospitals (CSC) meet high standards for treating very complex stroke cases, including those caused by blood clots (ischemic strokes), and those caused by bleeding (hemorrhagic strokes). These standards being ready 24/7 to receive acute stroke patients, the capability to perform thrombectomies and other catheter procedures, having neurosurgery available, advanced imaging techniques, like MRI, MRA, CTA, DSA, and TCD to take detailed pictures of the brain. Comprehensive Stroke Centers also accept transfers of complex stroke patients from other hospitals (including Primary Stroke Centers) which are not capable of providing the special care needed.
A Primary Stroke Center (PSC) is the lower level of stroke certification and meets specific standards to provide better care for stoke patients than a regular hospital. These standards include having a dedicated program just for stroke patients, having qualified medical professionals who are trained in stroke care, and making sure each patient gets personalized care. PSCs rigorously collect data on how well they treat stroke patients and use that information to improve the quality of stroke care they provide. They can administer the clot busting drug tPA, but are not equipped to provide thrombectomies and other complex neurovascular procedures, so they often need to transfer more complex stroke patients to Comprehensive Stroke Centers. The risk of transferring acute stroke patients from one hospital to another is that transfers take time to arrange, and time to perform, and “time lost is brain lost.”
Where are the Comprehensive Stroke Centers in Georgia?
According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, as of late 2023, there are 8 comprehensive stroke centers in Georgia. Keep in mind that hospitals can lose their stroke certification, and may also move up to a higher certification.
ATLANTA – Piedmont
1968 Peachtree Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30309
ATLANTA -Emory University Hospital
1364 Clifton Road Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30322
ATLANTA -Grady Memorial Hospital
80 Jesse Hill Junior Drive Southeast, Atlanta, GA 30303
AUGUSTA – Wellstar MCG Health
1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA 30912
GAINESVILLE – Northeast Georgia Medical Center
743 Spring Street, Gainesville, GA 30501
MARIETTA – Wellstar Kennestone Hospital
677 Church Street, Marietta, GA 30060
ROSWELL – Wellstar North Fulton Hospital
3000 Hospital Boulevard, Roswell, GA 30076
SAVANNAH – Memorial Health University Medical Center
4700 Waters Avenue, Savannah, GA 31404
There are two hospitals in Georgia considered to be “Thrombectomy Capable” hospitals, but they do not (yet) fully qualify for certification as a Comprehensive Stroke center. They are:
ATHENS – St. Mary’s Hospital
1230 Baxter Street, Athens, GA
COLUMBUS – Piedmont Columbus Regional – Midtown
710 Center Street, Columbus, GA 31901
Where are the Primary Stroke Centers in Georgia?
According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, as of late 2023, there were 41 Primary Stroke Center Hospitals in Georgia. Here is the list, alphabetized by city.
ALBANY – Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital
417 West 3rd Avenue, Albany, GA 31701
ATHENS – Piedmont Athens Regional
1199 Prince Avenue, Athens, GA 30606
ATLANTA – Emory University Hospital Midtown
550 Peachtree Street Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30308
ATLANTA – Northside Hospital
1000 Johnson Ferry Road Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30342
AUGUSTA Doctors Hospital
3651 Wheeler Road, Augusta, GA 30909
AUGUSTA – Piedmont Hospital
1350 Walton Way, Augusta, GA 30901
AUSTELL – Wellstar Cobb Hospital
3950 Austell Road Southwest, Austell, GA 30106
BRASELTON – Northeast Georgia Medical Center
1400 River Place, Braselton, GA 30517
BRUNSWICK – Southeast Georgia Health System
2415 Parkwood Drive, Brunswick, GA 31520
CALHOUN – AdventHealth Gordon
1035 Redbud Road Calhoun, GA 30701
CANTON – Northside Hospital – Cherokee
450 Northside Cherokee Boulevard, Canton, GA 30114
CARROLLTON – Tanner Medical Center
705 Dixie Street, Carrollton, GA 30117
CARTERSVILLE – Piedmont Hospital
960 Joe Frank Harris Parkway, Cartersville, GA 30120
COLUMBUS – St. Francis-Emory Healthcare
2122 Manchester Expressway, Columbus, GA 31904
CONYERS – Piedmont Rockdale
1412 Milstead Avenue, Conyers, GA 30012
CUMMING – Northside Hospital – Forsyth
1200 Northside Forsyth Drive, Cumming, GA 30041
DALTON – Hamilton Medical Center
1200 Memorial Drive, Dalton, GA 30720
DECATUR – Emory Decatur Hospital
2701 North Decatur Road, Decatur, GA 30033
DEMOREST – Habersham Medical Center
541 Historic Highway 441, Demorest, GA 30535
DULUTH – Northside Hospital
3620 Howell Ferry Road, Duluth, GA 30096
FAYETTEVILLE – Piedmont Fayette
1255 Highway 54 West, Fayetteville, GA 30214
GRIFFIN – Wellstar Spalding Regional Hospital
601 South 8th Street, Griffin, GA 30224
JOHNS CREEK – Emory Johns Creek Hospital
6325 Hospital Parkway, Johns Creek, GA 30097
LAGRANGE – Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center
1514 Vernon Rd., LaGrange, GA 30240
LAWRENCEVILLE – Northside Hospital – Gwinnett
1000 Medical Center Boulevard, Lawrenceville, GA 30046
MACON – Piedmont Macon North
400 Charter Blvd, Macon, GA 31210
MACON – Atrium Health Navicent
777 Hemlock Street, Macon, GA 31201
MACON – Piedmont Macon
350 Hospital Drive, Macon, GA 31217
NEWNAN – Piedmont Newnan
745 Poplar Road, Newnan, GA 30265
RIVERDALE – Southern Regional Medical Center
11 Upper Riverdale Road, Riverdale, GA 30274
ROME – AdventHealth Redmond
501 Redmond Road, Rome, GA 30165
ROSWELL – Wellstar North Fulton Hospital
3000 Hospital Boulevard, Roswell, GA 30076
SAVANNAH – Candler Hospital
5353 Reynolds Street, Savannah, GA 31405
SAVANNAH – St. Joseph’s Hospital
11705 Mercy Boulevard, Savannah, GA 31419
SNELLVILLE – Piedmont Eastside Medical Center
1700 Medical Way, Snellville, GA 30078
STATESBORO – East Georgia Regional Medical Center
1499 Fair Road, Statesboro, GA 30458
THOMASTON – Upson Regional Medical Center
801 West Gordon Street, Thomaston, GA 30286
VALDOSTA – South Georgia Medical Center
2501 North Patterson Street, Valdosta, GA 31602
VILLA RICA – Tanner Medical Center
601 Dallas Highway, Villa Rica, GA 30180
WARNER ROBINS – Houston Healthcare
1601 Watson Boulevard, Warner Robins, GA 31093
WINDER – Northeast Georgia Medical Center – Barrow
316 North Broad Street, Winder, GA 30680
Act FAST to Spot a Stroke!
F means Face. If they have an uneven smile, if one side of face droops, or is numb – assume stroke.
A means Arms – Ask them to raise both arms equally. If one arm drifts down or is numb compared to the other – assume stroke.
S means Speech – Ask them to repeat something simple like “Remember the Alamo.” If they have trouble – assume stroke.
T means it’s TIME! – If any one of the above is present, assume it’s a stroke and call 911. Get the patient to the hospital immediately because every second and every minute counts. Worry about packing the toothbrush later.
To read about the most common stroke malpractice claims, click here.