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Mobile Stroke Unit

Life saving stroke care in minutes.

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What is the Mobile Stroke Unit?

The UR Medicine Mobile Stroke Unit is the region’s only ambulance dedicated to stroke care. Unlike a traditional ambulance, it is equipped with a CT scanner to diagnose strokes and can provide specific treatments, like clot-busting medication (tPA), before reaching the hospital.

Highly-specialized staff on the MSU include a CT scanner operator, an emergency medical technician, and a trained stroke nurse who works closely with a stroke neurologist at the hospital to choose the best treatment.

The unit is equipped with the following specialized technology:

  • CT scanner
  • Telehealth equipment
  • Point-of-care devices to test for INR, glucose, creatinine, and other values
  • Medications specific to acute stroke treatment, such as tPA (tissue plasminogen)

When is the Mobile Stroke Unit dispatched?

If the initial emergency call is a suspected stroke, the Mobile Stroke Unit and a standard ambulance will be dispatched immediately to the location. If the standard ambulance arrives at the scene of the call first and determines that the individual has had a stroke, EMS staff will work with the Mobile Stroke Unit staff to provide acute stroke care.

Patients will be taken to the nearest hospital with the appropriate level of care available to treat their stroke, or to the hospital requested by the patient.

Video: Overview of the Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU), a high-tech ‘emergency room on wheels’ that is designed to provide life-saving care to stroke victims.
Video: Hear about Joe Capizzi’s lifesaving experience with UR Medicine’s Mobile Stroke Unit.
Video: Every year 140,000 people lose their lives to a Stroke. Because of his wife and the UR Medicine Mobile Stroke Unit, Doug is not one of them. This is his story.

Where Is The Mobile Stroke Unit Available?

Our service area includes all of Monroe County, with plans to expand to neighboring counties over time.

UR Medicine's Approach

When someone experiences a stroke, quick, lifesaving care can greatly improve their chances of recovery and reduce disability. That’s why UR Medicine, in partnership with American Medical Response, launched our Mobile Stroke Unit.

UR Medicine has long been dedicated to providing top-level stroke care across the region, and the Mobile Stroke Unit is a key step forward in that mission.

Tarun Bhalla, MD, PhD - Director of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Services

"We hope to assist Emergency Medicine physicians in the region by providing recommendations involving thrombolytic treatment or endovascular intervention for patients who present with an acute stroke. Serving as the region’s only Joint Commission-designated Comprehensive Stroke Center is both an honor and a responsibility. We view this role in the community as part of our responsibility as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, as we work to improve stroke care for every patient in every hospital in the region."
Closeup of the Mobile Stroke Unit

Support the MSU

Every minute counts when someone suffers a stroke. Join us in advancing state-of-the-art stroke care by supporting this vital mobile emergency service that provides the local community their best chance at recovery.

What Sets Us Apart?

The UR Medicine MSU is the only unit of its kind in Western and Central New York and the 13th in the nation. Similar units have existed in other communities across the nation for several years. The first MSU was launched in the U.S. in Houston in 2014. Since then, MSUs have been deployed in several other cities, the closest being Cleveland and New York City. With the Mobile Stroke Unit, UR Medicine gathers data on the timeliness of stroke care and patient outcomes and uses this information to further improve stroke care.

Our nationally recognized, highly trained stroke and neurocritical care team provides comprehensive care for all types of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases. State-of-the-art neuroimaging capabilities and immediate access to all subspecialists offer patients the most sophisticated medical and surgical treatments necessary for the best outcomes.

Providers

Our care team is here for you. Find a UR Medicine expert and get care now.

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Locations

We serve you in the Rochester metropolitan area and surrounding region.

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3 locations

Neurology Stroke Clinic - Brighton
Part of Strong Memorial Hospital

Clinton Crossings, Building F
2400 South Clinton Avenue
Rochester, NY 14618

Comprehensive Stroke Center - Rochester
Part of Strong Memorial Hospital

Strong Memorial Hospital
601 Elmwood Avenue
Rochester, NY 14642

Primary Stroke Center - Rochester
Part of Highland Hospital

Highland Hospital
1000 South Avenue
Rochester, NY 14620

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