Stroke Network
The Illinois Neurological Institute Stroke Network is the largest rural stroke network in the nation with over 25 Illinois hospitals working together to be leaders in the prevention, detection and treatment of brain attacks (stroke).
Because early recognition of the symptoms of stroke and prompt stroke diagnosis and treatment is critical for best recovery, OSF Saint Francis Medical Center originally developed this network in 1997 to assist rural hospitals in providing timely acute treatment to persons suffering a brain attack. The Stroke Network allowed people residing in rural communities to go to a hospital near their home with the ability to begin the assessment, testing and early treatment of acute strokes and transfer to a larger hospital for additional treatment. Now over 10 years strong, all 25 rural hospitals in the INI Stroke Network have provided this level of care, given IV t-PA and transferred patients to the Illinois Neurological Institute Stroke Center for further comprehensive stroke treatment.
The Illinois Neurological Institute (INI) was organized as a hospital within OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in 2000 and now administers the Stroke Network to provide leadership and ensure excellence in stroke care.
