rock formation in front of pink and purple sky

Petznick Stroke Center

About Our Program

At the Petznick Stroke Center, we are committed to providing excellent care, informing the community about prevention through control of risk factors, and finding new ways of treating and preventing stroke through research.

Barrow Neurological Institute at Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center has one of the most experienced and comprehensive stroke programs in the country, caring for more stroke victims than any other center in the southwestern United States.

Barrow is the major stroke research center in the Southwest. Our team conducts more clinical stroke treatment and prevention research trials than any other institution in the region.

In addition, the Petznick Stroke Center has met the rigorous standards for designation as a Comprehensive Stroke Center by the Joint Commission in partnership with the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association.

Learn More About the Petznick Stroke Center

  • Transfer a Stroke Patient: To request immediate transfer of a stroke patient, call 1-844-BNI-XFER (844-264-9337) 
  • Non-Urgent Stroke Information Line: For non-urgent stroke questions and inquiries, call (602) 406-8272
  • Acute Stroke Referrals or Questions: Please call (602) 406-8272
  • If you think you may be having a stroke, dial 9-1-1
comprehensive stroke center certification logo

BE FAST – Know the Signs of Stroke

If you notice any of the stroke symptoms above in yourself or a loved one, do not wait. Call 911.
Si usted nota alguno de los síntomas de derrames cerebrales en usted o en un ser querido, no espere. Llame al 911.

Accolades

The Petznick Stroke Center is nationally certified by The Joint Commission. Additionally, we hold a Primary Stroke Center certification from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. 

This certification recognizes hospitals with state-of-the-art infrastructure, experienced staff with unique education, and competency standards to receive and treat patients with strokes. It is a testament to our ability meet stroke center standards and requirements. These include advanced imaging capabilities and 24/7 availability of subspecialized treatment.  

Our Stroke Center also received 2020 Get With The Guidelines Awards from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. They included the Gold Plus Quality Achievement, Target: Stroke Honor Roll, and Target: Stroke Advanced Therapy awards. These top honors highlight our adherence to achievement measures and our commitment to reducing treatment times.

We also voluntarily enter our clinical data into the Get With The Guidelines public reporting website and report outcomes for cases and procedures at our hospital. Our dedication to quality improvement and transparency by publicly reporting our outcomes sets us apart from other stroke centers. 

doctor talking to senior patient

Neuro-Rehabilitation & Neuro-Robotics

Neuro-rehabilitation is key to stroke recovery. Our CARF-accredited Neuro-Rehabilitation Center offers inpatient, outpatient, and transitional rehabilitation programs. We proudly lead the neuro-rehabilitation industry in the use of neuro-robotics. These cutting-edge technologies have allowed patients to reach new heights in function and independence. 

The Barrow Difference

At the Petznick Stroke Center, we offer the complete spectrum of stroke care—from the pre-hospital setting to reintegration into the community after stroke. Our comprehensive services and multidisciplinary team approach allow us to meet the unique needs of each patient. 

Our specialists include:

  • Board-Certified Vascular Neurologists
  • Care Coordinators
  • Cerebrovascular Neurosurgeons
  • Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurses (CNRN)
  • Endovascular Neurosurgeons
  • Interventional Neurologist
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Physical Therapists
  • Radiologic Technologists
  • Rehabilitation Physicians
  • Speech Therapists
  • Stroke Certified Registered Nurses (SCRN)
doctor talking to patient

Mobile Stroke Unit

Barrow is home to the first mobile stroke unit in the country to operate around the clock in a city with a population greater than 1 million. We launched the Barrow Emergency Stroke Treatment Unit in 2017 in partnership with the Phoenix Fire Department. Their 911 dispatchers deploy the unit whenever they receive a call about a possible stroke within the unit’s response radius. 

Our mobile stroke unit is staffed with a trained stroke team and functions like an emergency room on wheels. It is equipped with a portable lab, computed tomography (CT) scanner, and clot-dissolving drugs. The stroke team connects with an on-call vascular neurologist via telemedicine and can begin treatment on scene.

If it hadn’t been for Barrow Neurological Institute, I probably wouldn’t be sitting here doing this good right now.

Babi Longo Petznick Stroke Center Patient
detour dan beach

I was looking at a computer laptop at a face of a neurologist that was asking me life-saving questions. They got me to the Barrow Neurological Stroke Center and took care of me. Within minutes, I was in a CAT scan and got a life-saving blood-thinner medication. I didn’t realize until later how serious it was. Thank God I was in their hands.

"Detour" Dan Beach Petznick Stroke Center Patient

Location

Barrow Neurological Institute campus in 3D

Videos

Stroke Video Resources

Richard Flores: From a Stroke at 30,000 Feet to Lifesaving Care in Under 90 Minutes

Richard Flores: From a Stroke at 30,000 Feet to Lifesaving Care in Under 90 Minutes

Richard Flores was around 30,000 feet in the air when he began…
How tPA is Used to Treat Ischemic Stroke

How tPA is Used to Treat Ischemic Stroke

Watch to see how the “clot busting” drug tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)…
How the Barrow Mobile Stroke Unit Works

How the Barrow Mobile Stroke Unit Works

Step inside the Barrow Mobile Stroke Unit as Richard Hernandez, RN, a…
Dr. Andrew Ducruet Talks Strokes with ABC15

Dr. Andrew Ducruet Talks Strokes with ABC15

Endovascular Neurosurgeon Dr. Andrew Ducruet discusses stroke risk factors, warning sicks, prevention,…

About Barrow Neurological Institute

Minding What Matters Most

Minding What Matters Most

Here at Barrow Neurological Institute, we are preserving thoughts, memories, dreams, personalities,…

News & Articles

exterior photograph of the barrow neuroplex

Contact Us

Call (602) 406-8272 for information about referrals, appointments, and non-emergency requests