RWJ Hamilton Opens New Stroke Unit On August 13
Award-Winning, Four-Bed Unit Dedicated To Stroke Treatment, Prevention And Support

HAMILTON, NEW JERSEY – Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJ Hamilton), Mercer County's leader in stroke care, will open its new, four-bed dedicated stroke unit on August 13 on the hospital's main campus in Hamilton Township. RWJ Hamilton is a two-time recipient of the Stroke Care Excellence Award given by HealthGrades, a national healthcare ratings organization, and the only hospital in Mercer County to receive this prestigious award in 2007.

Full-Service Stroke Program Better Serves Patients in Need
RWJ Hamilton's full-service stroke unit focuses on acute stroke care, rehabilitation, support and education. The stroke program, under the medical direction of Rao S. Pasupuleti, MD, board certified neurologist and clinical neuro-physiologist, is served by 13 neurologists and a staff of specially-trained healthcare professionals.

Stroke is the leading cause of disability and the third leading cause of death in the United States. Hypertension, a condition present in one out of every five Americans, contributes to the highest number of strokes. "It's very true that time lost is brain lost," says Dr. Pasupuleti, "which is why it is crucial that an individual must seek immediate care at the first sign of stroke."

Know These Stroke Warning Signs
According to the American Stroke Association (ASA), everyone should know these warning signs of stroke and teach them to others:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause.

Program Reduces Debilitating Effects of Stroke, Offers Monthly Support
RWJ Hamilton participates in the ASA's nationwide program, "Get With the Guidelines—Stroke" (GWTG-Stroke), implemented to ensure that stroke patients at acute care hospitals are treated and discharged appropriately. "Our mission is to reduce the debilitating effects of stroke in each and every patient through specialized care and community education," says Dr. Pasupuleti.

RWJ Hamilton's stroke program is the only one in Mercer County to offer a monthly stroke support group. Free to stroke survivors and their families, this monthly support group features guest speakers and covers topics including risk factor reduction and coping with disabilities. For information or to register, call HealthConnection at (609)584-5900 or visit www.rwjhamilton.org/health. In addition, RWJ Hamilton will offer its first conference for stroke survivors and their caregivers on Saturday, October 20, 2007.

More About RWJ Hamilton
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJ Hamilton) is the only New Jersey hospital to receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Located in Hamilton Township, NJ, the hospital is part of the RWJ Health System and Network and is affiliated with the University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey-RWJ Medical School and the Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

The RWJ Hamilton Health Care Corporation serves communities within a five-county area and includes an acute care hospital, the Cancer Institute of New Jersey Hamilton, three affiliated medical groups, seven Lakeview Child Centers, and the RWJ Hamilton Center for Health & Wellness, home of a medically-based fitness center and the hospital's extensive community education program. Over 1,900 hospital employees and 650 medical staff physicians share RWJ Hamilton's passion for Excellence Through Service. For more information, visit www.rwjhamilton.org.