Tanner Medical Center/East Alabama has earned designation as a Level III Stroke Center by the Statewide Trauma and Health System Advisory Council (STHSAC), marking a significant milestone in expanding access to lifesaving stroke care for residents
across Randolph County.
The designation means the hospital is now equipped to rapidly assess and treat acute ischemic strokes — the most common type of stroke — through advanced teleneurology capabilities and nationally recognized care protocols.
For patients, it means faster care. For families, it means having critical stroke support close to home.
“Every minute matters in stroke care,” said Heather Stitcher, vice president and administrator of critical access hospitals. “This designation ensures we can begin lifesaving treatment right away, rather than losing precious time transporting patients to distant facilities.”
A key factor in achieving this designation was a 2023 grant through the State of Alabama’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Fiscal Recovery Fund.
The funding allowed for expansion of local telemedicine services by investing in teleneurology — providing the hospital with the tools and training needed to connect emergency providers with neurologists remotely, 24/7.
Before this designation, the nearest certified stroke center was over 75 miles away — more than a 90-minute drive under the best circumstances. In a stroke emergency, that delay can be the difference between recovery and lifelong disability.
As a Level III facility, the hospital offers 24/7 access to remote neurologists who can evaluate patients in real time, confirm diagnoses and guide emergency teams in delivering clot-busting medications when appropriate.
Patients are stabilized locally and, if needed, transferred to a more advanced stroke center — such as Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton or another specialized stroke facility — for higher-level stroke interventions.
“Teleneurology has been a game-changer for our hospital and our patients,” said Joe Bradley, stroke system telehealth coordinator, who helped lead the designation process. “We’ve already seen a 40% reduction in the time it takes to begin critical treatment. That’s lives changed — and in many cases, lives saved.”
The designation also changes how local EMS teams respond to stroke calls. Emergency responders can now take patients directly to Tanner Medical Center/East Alabama, rather than bypassing it for distant hospitals — reducing delays and improving chances of survival and recovery.
While Level III Stroke Centers are not long-term stroke units, they play an essential role in diagnosis, emergency intervention and stabilization. The hospital’s stroke protocol includes immediate imaging, physician consultation and administration of thrombolytic therapy — all supported by teleneurology — with seamless transfer protocols when more advanced care is required.
The hospital also partnered with regional EMS agencies to standardize stroke response protocols and ensure all emergency and hospital staff receive ongoing stroke-specific education.
“Being a rural hospital doesn’t mean we do less — it means we do more with what we have, and we do it with heart,” said Stitcher. “This certification reflects our commitment to making sure our community receives the very best care, right here at home.”
Tanner Medical Center/East Alabama continues to invest in care improvements and community education. Ongoing staff training, regional collaboration and public awareness efforts are all part of the hospital’s commitment to improving stroke outcomes across east Alabama.
Learn more about Tanner Medical Center/East Alabama, its services and its mission to serve the community at https://www.tanner.org/tanner-medical-center-east-alabama.