Topton Ambulance Service Inc., serving a 37-square-mile area in Berks County, has partnered with Lehigh Valley Health Network’s Mobile Stroke Unit to bring a higher level of emergency stroke care to those it serves.

With the addition of Topton Ambulance, the mobile stroke unit now covers more than 400 square miles in the region, according to LVHN.

The Mobile Stroke Unit, part of Lehigh Valley Fleming Neuroscience Institute, was the first mobile stroke unit in Pennsylvania when it debuted in 2019 and is currently one of only 20 such units across the country providing leading-edge stroke care.

Based at Cetronia Ambulance, South Whitehall, the stroke unit has operated in partnership with Cetronia since its inception.

The new partnership with Topton Ambulance means the stroke unit will respond to stroke calls, along with Topton or rendezvous with Topton crews on their way to a Comprehensive Stroke Center, such as Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township.

In Berks County, Topton Ambulance serves about 4,200 residents in all or portions of Topton and Lyons boroughs and Longswamp, Rockland, Maxatawny and District townships.

“Having quicker access to world-class stroke care is a great tool for us to have to support the communities we serve,” Topton Ambulance Chief and Executive Director Michael Richards said. “We’re thrilled to be partnering with the stroke unit.”

The mobile stroke unit does not operate everywhere within the LVHN footprint.

In addition to Topton, it has agreements with and assists on stroke calls with Northern Valley, Cetronia, Macungie and Boyertown ambulance companies. Ken Reichenbach, mobile stroke unit program director, said the mobile stroke unit is essentially a neurological emergency room on wheels.