Woman and female doctor looking at image of brain scan on tablet.

Stroke & Aneurysm Care

Go to your local emergency room (ER) if you or a loved one recognize signs of an onset of stroke. Acting fast can save a life.

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A stroke can happen to anyone, at any age, at any time. Call 911 for stroke symptoms like arm weakness, speech difficulty and face drooping. Our Avera emergency providers offer immediate assessment, intervention and management of acute strokes.

BE FAST to Prevent Strokes

If the event of a stroke occurs, remember: BE FAST1.

Signs of Stroke

  • Balance loss
  • Eyesight loss
  • Face drooping
  • Arm weakness
  • Speech difficulty
  • Time to call 911

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Risk Factors

80% of strokes are preventable. You can help prevent stroke by making lifestyle modifications to reduce your risk. Risk factors that may increase your chance of experiencing a stroke include:

  • Diabetes
  • Excessive alcohol consumption
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Heart disease
  • Lack of exercise
  • Obesity
  • Poor diet
  • Smoking

Services

Benefit from Avera’s team and technology — dedicated to providing the best outcomes after a stroke. You’ll receive comprehensive care from prevention and diagnosis to treatment, rehabilitation and follow-up care.

  • 24-hour coverage by certified stroke nurses
  • Dedicated brain and spine unit and case management
  • Emergency department care transfer
  • Immediate, advanced intervention and management of acute stroke
  • Outpatient stroke clinic for follow-up care
  • Inpatient rehabilitation
  • Physical, occupational and speech therapy
  • Patient outcome tracking system
  • State-of-the-art neurodiagnostic techniques

Certified Comprehensive Stroke Center

Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center is home to our certified stroke center as designated by the DNV Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification. This national recognition demonstrates the highest level of expertise to diagnose, treat and support stroke emergencies for our patients.

Avera McKennan Hospital is also an award recipient of the American Heart Association's Get with the Guidelines® Stroke program.

Premier Intervention Program

With premier interventional neurology therapies, Avera’s neurocritical care unit includes fellowship-trained neuroendovascular specialists and neurointensivists. These experts use minimally invasive methods to treat blood vessel disorders involving the head, neck and spine.

Our neuroendovascular stroke program allows for a wider time window for stroke treatment — for up to 24 hours from onset of symptoms. Full spectrum care for patients with brain aneurysms is also available.

Heatlhcare Accreditation Services Certified Comprehensive Stroke Center logo

Recovery After Stroke & Aneurysm

Recovery time depends on how severe the stroke or aneurysm was and the patient’s overall health. A patient may stay in a hospital for several days or up to a few weeks. Many patients go directly to rehabilitation after being admitted from acute or inpatient hospital care. Inpatient rehabilitation can take several weeks to a couple months.

While lost brain cells can't be revived, the brain and body can be retrained after a stroke or aneurysm. A patient’s rehabilitation plan includes recovery support with physical exercises, daily life function re-establishment, and speech or cognitive exercises to regain as much as independence as possible.

Recovery Care Team Members

Your rehab and recovery care team may involve time with Avera specialists such as:

  • Occupational therapists
  • Orthotists
  • Psychologists
  • Physiatrists
  • Physical therapists
  • Psychiatrists and counselors
  • Social workers
  • Speech therapists

Stroke Support Group

The Sioux Empire Stroke Club is an educational program for stroke survivors and their families and friends in Sioux Falls, SD. After the program, attendees may take the opportunity to connect and socialize.

Research and Clinical Trials

StrokeNet

Avera is a member of StrokeNet, a National Institutes of Health-funded program that enables us to bring cutting-edge stroke clinical trials to our patients. Since Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center was certified as a comprehensive stroke center in 2023, Avera McKennan and the Avera Research Institute have been part of two large clinical trials and have been selected as a site for a third trial.

StrokeNet facilitates efficient, nationwide enrollment in cutting-edge clinical trials related to stroke prevention, care and rehabilitation. It also provides an educational platform for stroke physicians, clinical trial coordinators, and stroke researchers.

Research Collaboration

Several Avera stroke clinicians are collaborating with research scientists at Avera Research Institute to improve care and understand the unique challenges that stroke patients face in rural areas where the population is dispersed and there are limited resources. We are also collaborating with other health systems to better understand how to translate research findings into practical, scalable solutions, and how we can improve outcomes for our patients together.

SD Stroke System

Avera Sacred Heart Hospital is partnering with the American Heart Association to support the SD Stroke Systems of Care. A three-year Helmsley grant offered the state of South Dakota the chance to develop a statewide stroke system of care, from emergency medical service to hospital and post-acute care. Avera Sacred Heart received official training in January 2026. This statewide initiative includes multiple hospitals from all three major health systems in SD.

More Programs & Services

Balance TherapyIf you feel unsteady because of chronic dizziness or fall frequently, trust our experts to help you find your balance again.
Neurocritical CareNeuroendovascular specialists and neurointensivists help patients who are suffering from stroke, trauma, tumors and more.
NeurosurgeryNeurosurgeons evaluate patients to determine the best options for treating brain and spine conditions in need of surgery.
Physical Medicine & RehabOur physiatrists and other experts help you recover and restore function after a disabling disease, disorder or injury.

Ask Your Doctor About Stroke Prevention

Addressing risk factors with your doctor, like high blood pressure and other chronic conditions, is a great way to help prevent stroke. Find out more about stroke warning signs and symptoms from the American Stroke Association or schedule an appointment with your doctor.

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1BE FAST was developed by Intermountain Healthcare as an adaptation of the FAST model implemented by the American Stroke Association. Reproduced with permission from Intermountain Healthcare. Copyright 2011, Intermountain Healthcare.

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Expect a fast response, expert diagnosis and high-quality care at Avera emergency department locations.

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Stroke & Aneurysm Care FAQ

Your provider is your most reliable source for answers about stroke and aneurysms. Explore frequently asked questions to learn more.

What is a stroke?

A stroke, sometimes called a brain attack, occurs when there’s a blockage to blood supply to part of the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. A stroke can cause lasting brain damage, long-term disability, or even death. Common disabilities from a stroke are paralysis, sensory disturbances, issues with understanding or using language, memory problems or emotional disturbances.

Are there different types of strokes?

Yes, there are two main types of strokes. 

  • An ischemic stroke causes a decrease in blood supply to the brain. This is the most common type.
  • A hemorrhagic stroke causes a bleed leading to a compression of brain fluid. For severe strokes of this type, immediate neurosurgery is required to decrease brain pressure and save brain cells.

Who is at risk for a hemorrhagic stroke?

Conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes can raise the risk for strokes. Genetic mutations in blood type can also cause strokes if blood clotting issues are common in an individual.

Is it possible to check for signs of an aneurysm?

Yes. Screenings and imaging tests to check for an aneurysm include ultrasound, CT scans and MRI. For brain aneurysms, cerebral angiography may also be used.

An abdominal aortic aneurysm screening is also an option. Avera's Planet Heart program includes a vascular screening for aneurysms with an ultrasound to check your abdominal aortic

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