Procedure Volume Patient Data Patient Conditions Reviews Back to Top

Home > FL Providers > Emergency Physicians

Dr. John Westafer, MD

(No ratings)

Specializes in: Emergency Medicine

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine (1979)

Professional interests include: stroke, emergency care, abdominal problems

763 Johnsonburg Road Emergency Department
Saint Marys, PA 15857

(814) 788-8595

Dr. John Westafer, MD is an emergency medicine doctor in Pensacola, FL specializing in emergency medicine. He graduated from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine in 1979 and has 45 years of experience. Dr. John Westafer, MD is affiliated with Penn Highlands Healthcare and ELK REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER.

Office Locations

Address:

1000 W. Moreno Street
Pensacola, FL 32501

Unable to locate address.

Address:

763 Johnsonburg Road Emergency Department
Saint Marys, PA 15857

Some issues Dr. John Westafer, MD can help you with:

Stroke

A stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when a blood vessel supplying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is ruptured or blocked. The brain cannot function without a steady supply of oxygen and nutrients, so when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, even for a brief moment, brain cells begin to die. When a sufficient number of brain cells die, the brain itself can no longer function, meaning that strokes are very dangerous. Strokes can result in impaired movement, speech, cognitive ability, the impairment of important physical functions, and even death.

Anyone can have a stroke, regardless of age and health. Strokes are known to happen at random. However, certain conditions and behaviors can increase one's risk of stroke over time.

Risk factors for stroke include:

Heart disease
Older age
Smoking
Diabetes
High blood pressure
High blood cholesterol and lipids

There are two main types of stroke: ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. Ischemic stroke occurs more commonly and is when a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked. Blockages are caused by blood clots and built-up plaque (deposits of fat and cholesterol), which leads to atherosclerosis, a condition where the blood vessels narrow and harden. The resultant restricted blood flow may lead to an ischemic stroke by blocking essential oxygen to the brain, causing the heart to exert more effort to pump blood.

Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in or around the brain ruptures. The burst vessel leaks blood into surrounding brain tissue, causing irreparable brain damage.

Hemorrhagic strokes are less common and may occur from head injuries, brain aneurysms, brain tumors, and bleeding disorders, amongst other conditions.

Both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes require immediate medical treatment. Medical intervention can prevent severe and life-threatening brain damage. Signs of stroke include:

-Disorientation or confusion

-Difficulty speaking

-Difficulty walking

-Impaired vision

-Weakness in the face, legs, or arms

-Severe headaches

When someone suspected of having a stroke reaches the hospital, the patient will usually receive a CT or other scan that provides an image of the brain. The scan results can reveal clotted or leaking blood in the brain. Physical exams, neurological exams, and blood tests may also be used to check for blood clotting and sugar. Treatment begins generally immediately if a stroke is detected.

Medical treatment for ischemic strokes includes a thrombolytic medicine which breaks up and disperses blood clots. This medicine can greatly improve stroke recovery and long-term health. However, the thrombolytic medicine must be administered as soon as possible to achieve these results. Other treatments for ischemic strokes are blood thinners and thrombectomy, a surgical procedure to remove a blood clot in the brain. Thrombectomy is performed by inserting a catheter (thin needle) into the artery to reach the blood clot and mechanically remove it. With the clot removed, normal blood flow to the brain resumes. Thrombectomy is typically performed at most six hours after a patient shows signs of a stroke.

Hemorrhagic strokes are treated with blood-saving medication and surgery. For a hemorrhagic stroke caused by the rupture of an aneurysm (blood vessel bulges), surgery to stem the bleeding aneurysm and vessel may be used. One surgical technique is stent-assisted coiling, which adds a stent (small wire-meshed tube) into the blood vessel to block the leaking opening of the aneurysm. A non-surgical procedure is endovascular coiling, where a catheter (thin, hollow needle) places a platinum wire coil at the spot of the aneurysm. The coil blocks bleeding and prevents the aneurysm from continuing to leak blood. These procedures are usually combined with blood-thickening medications. Blood transfusions may be administered if substantial blood loss has occurred.

Since stroke patients may have lost some essential functions while the blood flow to their brains was obstructed, both ischemic stroke and hemorrhage stroke patients may receive post-stroke rehabilitation to rebuild their physical and mental abilities. Some restorative treatments include occupational, physical, and speech therapy. Patients may also receive care from neurologists, who can assist patients in recovering certain brain functions and cognitive abilities, and rehabilitation psychologists, who may help patients with their emotional, behavioral, and cognitive recovery. Some stroke patients require lengthy rehabilitation and may never fully regain function, while others may recover more quickly. While the fastest recovery improvements are usually seen in the first three or four months, stroke rehabilitation can last for years.

If someone begins to show signs of stroke, contact emergency services and call 9-1-1 immediately since blood flow must be restored as soon as possible to help avoid significant brain damage. If an ambulance takes the person to the hospital, paramedics can initiate stroke treatment as soon as the patient enters the ambulance, allowing for more prompt medical intervention and care.

emergency care	786
tracheal (windpipe) procedures	17

**Gender**
Male	338
Female	504

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	789
Black	32
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	210
From 75 to 84	211
85 and over	193
Less than 65	228

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	62
Stroke	14
Ischemic Heart Disease	56
Depression	40
Chronic Kidney Disease	39
Asthma	13
Osteoperosis	17
Atrial Fibrilation	19
Heart Failure	39
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	35
Diabetes	38
Dementia	24
Cancer	12

emergency care	514

**Gender**
Male	187
Female	321

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	464
Black	21
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	102
From 75 to 84	129
85 and over	127
Less than 65	150

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	57
Stroke	14
Ischemic Heart Disease	46
Depression	49
Chronic Kidney Disease	38
Asthma	16
Osteoperosis	15
Atrial Fibrilation	18
Heart Failure	39
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	34
Diabetes	34
Dementia	27
Cancer	13

emergency care	356

**Gender**
Male	330
Female	412

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	684
Black	32
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	204
From 75 to 84	176
85 and over	116
Less than 65	246

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	64
Stroke	15
Ischemic Heart Disease	51
Depression	42
Chronic Kidney Disease	39
Asthma	19
Osteoperosis	13
Atrial Fibrilation	17
Heart Failure	37
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	24
Diabetes	42
Dementia	20
Cancer	11

emergency care	336

**Gender**
Male	154
Female	182

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	295
Black	0
Hispanic	19
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	93
From 75 to 84	94
85 and over	60
Less than 65	89

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	63
Stroke	10
Ischemic Heart Disease	47
Depression	41
Chronic Kidney Disease	47
Asthma	31
Osteoperosis	13
Atrial Fibrilation	16
Heart Failure	36
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	27
Diabetes	41
Dementia	22
Cancer	15

emergency care	304

**Gender**
Male	134
Female	178

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	277
Black	13
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	89
From 75 to 84	72
85 and over	65
Less than 65	86

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	59
Stroke	12
Ischemic Heart Disease	45
Depression	42
Chronic Kidney Disease	48
Asthma	14
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	16
Heart Failure	32
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	25
Diabetes	34
Dementia	17
Cancer	15

emergency care	529

**Gender**
Male	207
Female	293

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	489
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	145
From 75 to 84	130
85 and over	135
Less than 65	90

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	72
Stroke	8
Ischemic Heart Disease	50
Depression	40
Chronic Kidney Disease	51
Asthma	13
Osteoperosis	17
Atrial Fibrilation	22
Heart Failure	35
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	31
Diabetes	39
Dementia	27
Cancer	15

emergency care	495

**Gender**
Male	213
Female	245

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	447
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	115
From 75 to 84	140
85 and over	113
Less than 65	90

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	71
Stroke	9
Ischemic Heart Disease	51
Depression	38
Chronic Kidney Disease	53
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	16
Atrial Fibrilation	23
Heart Failure	38
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	29
Diabetes	42
Dementia	30
Cancer	14

emergency care	290

**Gender**
Male	128
Female	155

**Age**
From 65 to 74	85
From 75 to 84	78
85 and over	74
Less than 65	46

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	70
Stroke	8
Ischemic Heart Disease	49
Depression	37
Chronic Kidney Disease	46
Asthma	13
Osteoperosis	20
Atrial Fibrilation	20
Heart Failure	30
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	27
Diabetes	39
Dementia	22
Cancer	12

emergency care	573

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. John Westafer, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. John Westafer, MD treated as an emergency medicine doctor in Pensacola, FL were emergency care and tracheal (windpipe) procedures.

emergency care	464
tracheal (windpipe) procedures	17

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. John Westafer, MD.

**Gender**
Female	229
Male	169

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	9
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	344
Hispanic	1
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Other	0

**Age**
85 and over	88
75 to 84	103
Less than 65	102
65 to 74	104

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. John Westafer, MD From 2013 - 2021

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. John Westafer, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, ischemic heart disease and chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension	60
High Cholesterol	51
Stroke	9
Ischemic Heart Disease	39
Depression	32
Chronic Kidney Disease	36
Asthma	13
Osteoporosis	12
Heart Failure	28
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	23
Diabetes	30
Atrial Fibrillation	15
Dementia	18
Cancer	10

Education & Training

Dr. John Westafer, MD graduated from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine in 1979. He completed residency at Sacred Heart Hospital, Pensacola. He is certified by the Emergency Medicine - American Board of Emergency Medicine and has a state license in Pennsylvania.

Medical School: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine (1979)

Residency: Sacred Heart Hospital, Pensacola

Board Certification: Emergency Medicine - American Board of Emergency Medicine

Licensed In: Pennsylvania

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. John Westafer, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Penn Highlands Healthcare

ELK REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. John Westafer, MD does not have any reviews yet, be the first to leave a review of Dr. John Westafer, MD here: Leave a Review

(No ratings)

Leave a Review

Biography

Dr. John Westafer specializes in emergency medicine. He studied medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. He is professionally affiliated with Penn Highlands Healthcare.

Select Year:

Dr. John Westafer, MD

Office Locations

Some issues Dr. John Westafer, MD can help you with:

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. John Westafer, MD in 2013

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. John Westafer, MD in 2014

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. John Westafer, MD in 2015

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. John Westafer, MD in 2016

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. John Westafer, MD in 2017

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. John Westafer, MD in 2018

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. John Westafer, MD in 2019

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. John Westafer, MD in 2020

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. John Westafer, MD From 2013 - 2021

Education & Training

Affiliations & Hospitals

Ratings & Reviews

Biography

Emergency Physicians in Nearby Locations

Other Providers in Pensacola, FL