Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center now has a new process when it comes to treating stroke patients. Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of disability for adults. However, with prompt medical treatment, patient outcomes can be drastically improved.
The hospitals emergency department and local emergency medical services have implemented a system that is called Stroke Alert. When EMS picks up a patient they believe is having a stroke, the hospital is notified before the patient arrives and issues a Stroke Alert. Upon arrival at the hospital, the patient is met at the ambulance by the stroke team, which consists of an emergency department physician, charge nurse, staff nurse, tech, laboratory tech and pharmacist.
The team immediately takes the patient from the ambulance to the CT scanner for a scan of the head while each team member performs essential assessments and testing. The CT scan results determine if the patient has had a stroke, and then the stroke team determines the best treatment option. The most effective form of treatment available, IV t-PA (a medication used that dissolves blood clots), must be administered within four hours of the time that the patients symptoms first appear.
When a patient is having a stroke, I want to know that we did everything possible to improve their outcome, says Trina Clarkson, emergency department director. Our streamlined process with multiple clinicians working together has had excellent results since its implementation.
The new process has reduced the length of time that a stroke patient is in the ED by an average of 40 minutes. The time saved is critical because it means less damage to the brain. The Stroke Alert was first implemented in the ED and is now operating throughout the hospital if the need arises.
Even with the clinical improvements, it is extremely important to know the signs and symptoms of a stroke. More than 60 percent of people who suffer a stroke wait more than 24 hours before seeking medical care.
It is important to recognize stroke symptoms and act quickly. Common stroke symptoms, which appear suddenly, in both men and women are:
Women may report unique, sudden stroke symptoms including:
Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center is part of the University of Kentucky Stroke Network and is in the process of applying to become a Certified Stroke Center by the Joint Commission. For more information regarding strokes, visit http://www.stroke.org.
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McDowell makes strides in helping stroke victims