Memorial Hermann Katy Now Offers Lifesaving Stroke Treatment
- Jun 10
- 2 min read
KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
June 10, 2026
By Natalie Cook Clark
Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital has expanded their stroke care capabilities to better serve the continuing growing Katy area community. During a stroke, time means everything and by adding better stroke treatments, Katy residents have access to lifesaving services.
Memorial Hermann Katy (23900 Katy Freeway) has added a stroke treatment that can save lives during a stroke event. This treatment includes the addition of 24/7 mechanical thrombectomy, a lifesaving treatment that dramatically reduces the risk of death and permanent disability in patients experiencing an ischemic stroke.
Katy patients requiring a mechanical thrombectomy, a minimally invasive procedure used to remove large blood clots directly from the brain, previously had to be transferred to another Memorial Hermann campus. This new addition allows Katy residents to stay closer and that time can save lives.
“When someone is having a stroke, every minute counts,” says Jerry Ashworth, senior vice president and CEO of Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital and Memorial Hermann Cypress Hospital. “By adding mechanical thrombectomy to our stroke program, we are removing the barrier of transport time and increasing a patient’s chance of walking, talking and regaining their independence following a stroke.”
This practice is already in place at the Katy campus. Recently the hospital performed their first mechanical thrombectomy on patient Ellen Bialas. While working from home, she suddenly lost movement in her left arm and leg and began slurring her speech. She called 911 and was transported to Memorial Hermann Katy.
Thanks to the rapid, coordinated response of the medical team, Bialas improved within hours. She was able to walk independently and perform daily activities just two days after her stroke. Today, she is back to enjoying time with her grandchildren and is looking forward to continuing her volunteer work with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, a passion of hers for more than 30 years.
“Jane Ellen’s outcome reflects what is possible when rapid recognition and advanced stroke care come together,” says Dr. Matthew Kole, MD, a neurosurgeon with Memorial Hermann's Mischer Neuroscience Associates. “Mechanical thrombectomy can restore blood flow in ways that were not possible a decade ago, but the success of that treatment still depends on time. Our team intervened quickly, reopened the vessel, and gave her the best chance at recovery.”
As Katy continues to grow, so does the community’s needs. While businesses and entertainment continue to flock to the Katy area so does improvement to healthcare options.
For more information on stroke capabilities at Memorial Hermann, visit memorialhermann.org/stroke.
