Cara Eckhart, RN

Specialty: stroke quality specialist

Location: Lehigh Valley Hospital–Carbon, 2128 Blakeslee Blvd. Drive East, Lehighton.

Philosophy of care: Colleagues at Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Carbon, part of Jefferson Health, earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval as a Primary Stroke Center. This means patients can count on a team with proven expertise in caring for conditions affecting blood flow to the brain, including strokes and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). These conditions are conditions of cerebrovascular disease, or CVD.

“When you come to LVH–Carbon with CVD, every second counts. We ensure patients have immediate access to a highly skilled, multidisciplinary stroke team prepared to deliver top-notch care,” says stroke quality specialist Cara Eckhart, RN.

It’s LVH–Carbon’s philosophy to bring the best quality, evidence-based clinical care, diagnostic tools, interventions and prevention strategies for CVD to the community, Eckhart says.

But, its approach to CVD doesn’t start and end at the hospital, according to Eckhart. The team promotes community awareness of stroke warning signs, when to call 911 and lifestyle changes that can prevent or reduce the risk of TIA.

What is an accredited Primary Stroke Center: “It recognizes our ability to provide all the critical elements necessary for long-term success in improving stroke outcomes,” Eckhart says. “Our team offers a full spectrum of care for patients with stroke and CVD.”

The accreditation confirms LVH–Carbon meets The Joint Commission’s “rigorous standards” for high-quality stroke care and reflects the hospital’s commitment to delivering timely, effective treatment, Eckhart says.

Accredited Primary Stroke Center benefits:

With this accreditation, our community can rest assured they are receiving the best possible stroke care without needing to travel, she says.

Why she chose medicine as a career: Following the birth of her son, Eckhart was inspired by the exceptional care provided by nurses and returned to school for nursing. A personal health complication that followed piqued her interest in neurology.

“This personal experience motivated me to start my career on the neuro unit at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest,” she says. Eckhart practiced at LVH–Cedar Crest for 11 years before transferring to LVH–Carbon in 2022 to serve the community where she grew up.

About Cara Eckhart: Eckhart and her husband raised their two sons in Palmerton, Eckhart’s hometown. She enjoys spending time with family and her two rescued beagles. Outside of her profession, she enjoys cycling and walking and has a passion for gardening and traveling.

For more: Visit LVHN.org/carbon.