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Gus Iversen, Editor in Chief | March 30, 2026
Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital has introduced an upgraded mobile stroke unit designed to deliver faster diagnosis and treatment across Chicago’s western suburbs, building on a program first launched in 2017.
The new unit replaces the hospital’s original rig with a smaller, custom-built vehicle intended to improve maneuverability in residential areas. It is equipped with a 32-slice CT scanner, an upgrade from the previous 16-slice system, allowing for higher-resolution imaging and quicker scan times in the field.
The Winfield, Illinois-based hospital said the mobile stroke unit enables clinicians to diagnose stroke type and initiate treatment before a patient reaches the emergency department. The onboard team includes a critical care nurse, CT technologist, paramedic and EMT driver, with neurologists and radiologists connected remotely via audio and video.
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“Having a 32-slice CT scanner on board is a game-changer because it allows for an immediate and accurate diagnosis in the field,” said Dr. Harish Shownkeen, medical director of the Stroke and Neurointerventional Surgery Programs at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital. “Once we’ve determined the type of stroke a patient is experiencing — whether it’s an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke — then we can administer lifesaving treatment, all before reaching the hospital.”
According to the health system, patients treated via the mobile unit receive thrombolytic therapy in an average of 47 minutes from dispatch, compared to 83 minutes through standard emergency medical services.
The program has expanded its reach in recent years. In 2025, the unit treated 507 patients, up from 166 in its first year of operation. It now covers 138 square miles and can be dispatched directly through 911 or meet EMS teams at designated intercept locations.
The mobile stroke unit received stroke certification from DNV in 2025, which Northwestern Medicine said is the second accreditation of its kind globally.
Hospital leaders say the model is intended to reduce time to treatment, which is closely tied to stroke outcomes, including survival and long-term disability.
