Lansing hospital 1st in Michigan to be certified comprehensive stroke center

Sparrow Hospital officials in Lansing are celebrating their recent certification as Michigan’s first Comprehensive Stroke Center.

The Lansing hospital is one of only 20 centers recognized for its stroke treatment, which starts with diagnosis, through hospital treatment and outpatient therapy.

Dr. Syed Hussain is the medical director of Stroke Services at Sparrow.   He's also an MSU HealthTeam neurologist.

He says discussions about expanding Medicaid coverage in Michigan may help with providing some elective and preventive care.

“Expanding the pool of patients that actually have coverage, we’ll be able to help a wider variety of patients," says Hussain. 

Hussain would also like to see the state designate stroke centers for critical care, similar to designated trauma centers which treat patients with serious injuries.

Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of disability among adults.  Nearly 800 thousand Americans suffer strokes every year.