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Comprehensive Stroke Center

The UCSF Comprehensive Stroke Center is a nationally recognized program that provides the most advanced diagnostic methods and treatments for stroke patients and patients at risk of stroke. Our team includes doctors from a wide range of specialties, including emergency medicine, vascular surgery, neurosurgery, neuroanesthesiology, diagnostic neuroradiology, neurocritical care, vascular neurology and neurointerventional radiology, as well as highly trained nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, case managers, social workers and medical technologists.

The team's collective expertise allows us to deliver outstanding innovative care at every level, from emergency services and in-hospital treatments to outpatient care and rehabilitation therapy. And we're proud of the recognition we've received for providing exceptional care.

We're certified as a comprehensive stroke center – the highest certification – by the Joint Commission, American Heart Association and American Stroke Association, and we're the first San Francisco program to be awarded a gold seal of approval in recognition of our ongoing commitment to quality care for stroke patients. UCSF is also part of NIH StrokeNet, the National Institutes of Health's network of 25 regional centers recognized as leaders in comprehensive care and research on stroke prevention, treatment and recovery.

Inpatient care

A stroke can occur because of a blockage in blood flow to the brain (ischemic stroke) or because of bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke). Our inpatient service provides 24/7 emergency care for acute ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), subarachnoid hemorrhage and intracerebral hemorrhage; the service includes experts and specialized programs to treat aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and cavernous malformations.

Patients may be transferred from other hospitals or admitted through the UCSF Emergency Department. In such cases, speedy treatment is key to preventing brain injury. Possible treatments include administering intravenous clot-busting drugs, physically removing blood clots (using a device that's threaded through blood vessels), coiling or clipping procedures for aneurysms, and surgical removal of AVMs or cavernous malformations.

Outpatient care

Patients at risk of stroke, seeking second opinions or needing follow-up care after discharge are seen in our stroke clinic or one of several other UCSF clinics. These clinics also provide care for stroke patients who need nonurgent evaluations, treatment or monitoring.

Patients who are recovering from a stroke or need rehabilitative care for acquired neurological injuries, including those resulting from stroke, may be seen in the UCSF Neurorecovery Clinic.

Interested patients may have access to investigational therapies related to stroke care by participating in our research programs or joining a clinical trial at UCSF. Patients who have had a stroke may be eligible to join the Stroke Recovery Initiative, a national registry that connects patients with relevant studies in which they may wish to participate.

Learn more about clinical trials and how they work.

Awards and recognition

  • U S  News and World Report badge recognizing UCSF as part of its 2024-2025 Honor Roll

    Among the top hospitals in the nation

  • Rated high-performing hospital for stroke

  • U S  News and World Report badge recognizing UCSF as number 3 in the country for neurology and neurosurgery for 2024 to 2025

    Best in the West and No. 3 in the nation for neurology & neurosurgery

  • Certified comprehensive stroke center

Stroke Center clinics (7)

Stroke Clinic

Stroke Clinic

400 Parnassus Ave., Eighth Floor
San Francisco, CA 94143

2

Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery Clinic

Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery Clinic

See our two Bay Area locations and learn more about the clinic.

HHT Center of Excellence

HHT Center of Excellence

185 Berry St., Suite 180, Lobby 6
San Francisco, CA 94107

Neurointerventional Radiology

Neurointerventional Radiology

505 Parnassus Ave., Third Floor, Room L-349
San Francisco, CA 94143

Neurorecovery Clinic

Neurorecovery Clinic

1651 Fourth St., Suite 232
San Francisco, CA 94158

2

Pulsatile Tinnitus Clinic

Pulsatile Tinnitus Clinic

See both of our San Francisco locations.

Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Clinic

Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Clinic

400 Parnassus Ave., Suite 501
San Francisco, CA 94143

Patient stories

After a-fib and a stroke, he's back on his bike

Gary had a history of atrial fibrillation – and then a life-threatening stroke. Thanks to an embolectomy and UCSF's comprehensive care, he enjoyed a full recovery.

Safe, effective treatment

UCSF is dedicated to continually raising the bar for exceptional neurovascular care, and we work to make sure our patients' outcomes reflect that.

For example, for the three-year period from Jan. 1, 2021, to Dec. 31, 2023, we maintained a stroke or mortality complication rate after an elective diagnostic angiogram of 0.06%. Our complication rate after carotid revascularization procedures (carotid endarterectomy [CEA], carotid artery stent [CAS], or transcarotid artery revascularization [TCAR]) was 0.95% percent for asymptomatic carotid stenosis and 2.03% for symptomatic carotid stenosis during the same period.

Quality Metric 
Complications or in-hospital mortality after diagnostic angiogram 1/2021-12/2023 
24-hour stroke complication rate  0.06%
24-hour mortality complication rate  0.0%
Stroke or death within 30 days after carotid revascularization procedure (CEA/CAS/TCAR) 1/2021-12/2023 
Asymptomatic carotid stenosis  0.95%
Symptomatic carotid stenosis  2.03%

 

Our center is part of the Neurology and Neurosurgery department and the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences.

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