M Health Fairview has attained advanced certification by The Joint Commission for our stroke programs at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Southdale Hospital, and St. John’s Hospital.  Our team of vascular neurologists, neurosurgeons, neurointensivists, interventional neuro-radiologists, and advanced practice providers work together to deliver state-of-the-art stroke treatment, rehabilitation, and stroke prevention.  Our model of providing full-spectrum care—from evaluation and diagnosis to neuro-endovascular services and rehabilitation support meets and seeks to maintain The Joint Commission’s high standards in stroke care. This complete team approach to care provides the best opportunity to address all the needs of the patient and family when they are affected by stroke.

• M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center-Comprehensive Stroke Center
• M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital-Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center
• M Health Fairview St. John’s Hospital-Primary Stroke Center

M Health Fairview neurologists in partnership with Fairview Health Services have also implemented Tele stroke technology across the state including at our six designated Acute Stroke Ready Hospitals. Tele stroke technology allows stroke specialists to rapidly evaluate patients, review the results of brain imaging tests conducted in a patient’s local emergency department, and coordinate treatment even when the patient and other doctors are miles apart. Tele stroke is also used to ensure patients receive a comprehensive stroke evaluation locally in their community. Doctors use this evaluation to guide advanced stroke prevention which can significantly reduce the risk of another stroke.  

M Health Fairview’s neurointerventional teams provide advanced treatment for ischemic strokes, at University of Minnesota Medical Center and Fairview Southdale Hospital using a minimally invasive procedure known as mechanical thrombectomy. This breakthrough stroke treatment can restore blood flow to the brain by removing a clot with a small catheter and leads to better outcomes for stroke patients.

Following mechanical thrombectomy a grading system is used to measure how well blood flow is restored following mechanical thrombectomy treatment. This is called “thrombolysis in cerebral infarction,” or TICI score. A score of TICI 2b and TICI 3 are considered successful treatments for restoring blood flow. At M Health Fairview the majority (80%) of patients are successfully treated with mechanical thrombectomy and have a grade of TICI 2b or 3.

*2021-2023 rate of substantial reperfusion(TICI 2b or 3) University of Minnesota Medical Center (82%), Fairview Southdale Hospital (78.2%).