When someone is suffering from a stroke, swift and skilled medical care is essential to a positive outcome.

Better outcomes start with recognizing stroke symptoms, and it’s as easy as remembering the phrase BE FAST.

B – Balance loss

E – Eye or vision changes

F – Face drooping

A – Arm weakness

S – Speech difficulty

T – Time to call 911

If you notice any stroke symptom, call 911 immediately. Fast treatment can save lives and reduce long-term disability.

Carbon County residents can rest assured that stroke patients are in capable hands, close to home at Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH) — Carbon.

LVH — Carbon earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® as a Primary Stroke Center. This means the hospital is specially trained to quickly identify and treat stroke patients using nationally recognized, evidence based protocols.

“Achieving Primary Stroke Center designation reflects our commitment to delivering the highest standard of stroke care to our community,” says Steven Lewis, MD, Physician in Chief, Lehigh Valley Fleming Neuroscience Institute, and Regional Chief, Vickie & Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Jefferson Health.

“This recognition demonstrates the skill of our clinical teams led by our stroke medical director at LVH — Carbon, Dr. Kathryn Cheponis, the strength of our emergency response protocols and our dedication to ensuring patients receive fast, lifesaving treatment when every second counts.”

To achieve this designation, LVH — Carbon in Lehighton underwent a comprehensive on-site evaluation by The Joint Commission reviewers.

The review team evaluated how quickly stroke patients are assessed, how treatment decisions are made, and how consistently the care team follows proven stroke care practices designed to improve outcomes and patient safety.

“This designation is the result of our colleagues’ hard work and expertise,” says Bob Begliomini, PharmD, President, Jefferson Health–Lehigh Valley Region. “When moments matter, we provide timely, specialized care that improves outcomes and saves lives. This designation reinforces that our patients can trust they are receiving exceptional care from a team prepared for even the most complex stroke cases.”

LVH — Carbon has a dedicated emergency department physician trained in stroke care and a stroke neurologist available 24/7 who is also capable of recognizing and treating stroke symptoms.

The stroke team can provide fast stroke assessment with imaging and is trained to administer clot-busting medication when necessary.

Patients who require highly specialized stroke procedures are seamlessly transferred to the Comprehensive Stroke Center at LVH — Cedar Crest in Allentown, ensuring patients have access to the appropriate level of stroke care through coordinated services within Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN), part of Jefferson Health.