Round-the-Clock Brain Attack Program Provides Immediate Stroke Evaluation and Care
Stroke 101
What Is It?
- Stroke is a “brain attack”
- Stroke is an emergency
- When symptoms appear, call 911
Warning Signs
- Sudden weakness or numbness of the face,arm or leg – usually on one side of the body
- Difficulty speaking
- Decreased or blurred vision in one or both eyes
- Sudden, severe headache
- Unexplained dizziness or loss of balance
Ways to Reduce Your Risk
- Have your blood pressure checked regularly
- Decrease your salt intake
- Maintain a normal weight through a healthy diet (low in fat, high in fruits, vegetables and lean meats)
- Exercise regularly
- Stop smoking
Benefits of the Brain Attack Program
- Reduced stroke complications and fewer deaths
- Increased use of acute stroke therapies
- Improved long-term outcomes
- Improved efficiency of patient care
- Increased patient satisfaction
May 2004 — Stroke is the third leading killer in the United States, and is the most common cause of adult disability. Memorial is committed to reducing these numbers through advanced diagnosis and treatment methods, as well as community awareness of the risks and early warning signs of stroke.
Similar to a heart attack where the blood flow to the heart is interrupted and the heart is deprived of oxygen, in a “brain attack” or stroke, blood flow to the brain is interrupted and the brain is deprived of oxygen. “Rapid intervention can significantly reduce the destructive effects of stroke and potentially reverse the damage,” says Gail Ballweg, MD, neurologist on the medical staff at Memorial Hospital West.
The Brain Attack Program at Memorial Regional Hospital and Memorial Hospital West is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to provide prompt, efficient diagnosis and treatment for stroke victims.
The program features a Brain Attack Team, similar in philosophy to a trauma team, comprised of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel and a select group of specially trained and certified Emergency Department (ED) physicians and nurses, as well as neurologists, radiologists and neurosurgeons.
Time Is of the Essence
Emergency Medical Services works directly with both hospitals to provide rapid transportation to the Emergency Department. The coordination and effective communication between EMS and the ED is the first line of defense for the Brain Attack Program.“We respond to stroke patients with both an Emergency Department nurse and an intensive care nurse to provide the initial, immediate care. The other members of the stroke team then perform a specialized stroke assessment,” says Sue Klett, Director of Nursing for Emergency Services at Memorial Hospital West. “This team effort provides continuity of care between the Emergency Department and the critical care unit where the patient will be moved.”
The Brain Attack Team also provides care beyond the initial, critical period, including specialized monitoring and neurological services. A CAT scan is performed within 25 minutes of the physician's order and evaluated by a physician within 20 minutes of completion so patients receive a faster diagnosis. The Brain Attack Team also rapidly obtains ECG and chest X-rays. Laboratory services are available around-the-clock, seven days a week, and include blood counts, blood chemistries and coagulation studies.
In addition to traditional stroke management methods, tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) is now used in treating selected acute strokes. “T-PA can only be administered intravenously within three hours of the onset of a brain attack,” says Luis Rodriguez, MD, Chief of Neuroscience at Memorial Regional Hospital. “If it has been more than three hours, but less than six hours, it can be administered intra-arterially, but only by a neurointerventionalist.”
Memorial Regional Hospital's Hoang Duong, MD, Director of Interventional Radiology, is one of only a few neuro-interventionalists in the United States. As a member of the Brain Attack Team, his expertise is called upon when it is necessary to administer t-PA intra-arterially.
A Consolidated Effort
Community outreach is integral to the success of the Brain Attack Program. Memorial collaborates with EMS, the fire department, the police department and community service groups to educate the public about stroke. By making people aware of the risks and early warnings signs of stroke, as well as providing specific ways to reduce their risk, Memorial is helping to save lives.
If you belong to a community service group or other organization in Southwest Broward and would like to schedule a stroke awareness presentation, call (954) 844-7976.
To meet with a physician to find out more about your risk of stroke, call the Memorial Physician Referral Service at (800) 944-DOCS. We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.