Stroke Center

Welcome to the Stroke Center at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. We work to provide all our stroke patients with the highest level of care and satisfaction. The Bellevue Stroke Program includes all doctors, nurses, advanced practice providers, students, therapy staff, ancillary and supportive staff who care for stroke patients at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. It includes both inpatient and outpatient settings.

The Bellevue Stroke Center is a multidisciplinary center that provides advanced Stroke and Neurovascular care. The Stroke Center functions collaboratively as a joint venture among the following departments and services:

Nursing
Vascular Neurology
Neurosurgery
Vascular Neurosurgery
Neurointerventional Radiology
Neurocritical Care
Neuroradiology
Vascular Surgery
Rehabilitation Medicine
Speech Language Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Physical Therapy
Social Work
Case Management
Pharmacy
Nutrition Services

Stroke Treatment at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue

We treat the following conditions:

Ischemic stroke
TIA
Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

We also treat the following special types of neurovascular disorders:

Arterial Dissection
Moya Moya Disease
Cerebral Vein Thrombosis
Arteriovenous Malformations
Carotid Stenosis
Intracranial Stenosis
Intracranial Aneurysms
Dural Ateriovenous Fistulas

We perform the following procedures:

Mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke
Aneurysm treatment with both endovascular procedures and neurosurgical procedures
Intracranial and extracranial stenting
Direct and indirect bypass for advanced steno-occlusive disease
Hemicraniectomy
Embolization and resection of AVMs
Endoscopic clot evacuation for intracerebral hemorrhage
Carotid Endarterectomy
Carotid Stenting
Advanced imaging including MRI, perfusion scans and transcranial doppler ultrasound

Stroke Treatment Outcomes

30 Day Stroke-Free Rate After Carotid Endarterectomy

What is a stroke?

There are 2 types of stroke – bleeding stroke (hemorrhagic) and clotting stroke (ischemic).

Some causes of a bleeding stroke are:
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Aneurysm rupture (subarachnoid hemorrhage)
- Vascular malformation (abnormal blood vessels)

A clotting stroke (ischemic stroke) happens when an artery in the brain is blocked by a blood clot and oxygen cannot get to the brain.

What are the signs of a stroke?

There are many signs of a stroke. Any sudden change in your body could be a stroke. Common signs of stroke are:

Balance problems
Trouble walking
Dizziness
Vision loss or double vision
Face drooping or twisting
Weakness on one side of the body
Numbness on one side of the body
Trouble talking or understanding

The acronym BE-FAST can help you remember the common signs of stroke.

What are risk factors for a Stroke?

Risk factors you can control (called Modifiable Risk Factors)

High Blood Pressure
Smoking
Diabetes
Heart Disease
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Atrial Fibrillation
Atherosclerosis
High Blood Cholesterol
Diets high in saturated and trans fats and high in cholesterol
Physical Inactivity
Obesity
Alcohol and Drug Abuse

Risk Factors you have no control over (called Non-Modifiable Risk Factors)

Advanced Age
Family History of Stroke
Genetic Disorders
Personal History of Prior Stroke or TIA
Personal History of Prior Heart Attack

What if the stroke signs or symptoms go away?

Stroke signs that go away completely in a short time are called a transient ischemic attack or “TIA”. A TIA happens when the blood clot causing the symptoms goes away. A TIA is a warning sign that a bigger stroke could happen soon. Anyone with stroke signs should go to the hospital immediately, even if they go away. In the hospital you will get tests and medication that can prevent a bigger stroke.

What should I do if I experience stroke signs or symptoms?

Call 911 and say, “I am having a stroke”. Go to the closet hospital. Stroke is an emergency. The treatment for stroke must be given right away. People do better if they are treated fast.

Outpatient Clinics

Bellevue Stroke Clinic
462 1^st Avenue
Ambulatory Care Building, Clinic 1B
New York, NY 10016
Phone: 212-562-1341

Bellevue Neurosurgery Clinic
462 1^st Avenue
Ambulatory Care Building, Clinic 1D
New York, NY 10016
Phone: 212-562-1301

Bellevue Speech and Swallow Outpatient Clinic
462 1^st Avenue
Ambulatory Care Clinics, Floor 3B
New York, NY 10016
Phone: 212-562-1857
*Ambulatory referral required

Bellevue Physical Therapy Services
462 1^st Avenue
Hospital Building, Floor 6N9
New York, NY 10016
Phone: 212-562-3618
*Ambulatory referral required

Stroke Center Leadership Team

Sara K. Rostanski, MD
Medical Director, Stroke

Paul Huang, MD
Chief of Service, Neurosurgery

Erez Nossek, MD
Director, Neuro Endovascular

Kaitlyn Lillemoe, MD
Director, Stroke Outpatient Clinic

Julia Bevilacqua, NP
Stroke Program Manager

Margaret Walchak, RN
Stroke Coordinator

Support Groups:

NYC Health + Hospitals Stroke Support Group
Call 718-245-1311 for more information

NYC Well (free, confidential mental health support)
1-888-692-9355

NYC Department of Social Services
212-311-6000

Protected Health Information

The New York City Health and Hospital Corporation is required under federal law to maintain the privacy of your protected health information. The hospital system may use your health information to provide you with treatment and care. Our stroke patients’ deidentified health care information is also used in a national database called Get With The Guidelines (American Heart Association). For more information about protected patient health information, please ask to see NYC Health +. Hospitals Notice of Privacy Practices (NYCHH Corporate Policy 2376).

Appointment

To schedule Clinic Appointment during regular business hours from 9:00am – 5:00pm, Monday-Friday, please contact 1(844) 692-4692.
For questions after hours, feel free to leave a voice message.
For urgent questions or in the event of an emergency, please dial 911.

MyChart Enrollment / Patient Information

https://epicmychart.nychhc.org/MyChart/Authentication/Login

Guidelines and Registry: We use the American Heart Association, Neurocritical Care Society, American Association of Neuroscience Nurses and Society of Vascular Nursing guidelines to drive our clinical care.
We use both New York State and American Heart Association’s Get with the Guidelines registries, along with additional internal metrics, to track patient-care data.