"A brain attack or a stroke is just as important as a heart attack and also calling 911 is just as important as in a heart attack," says Karen Sacks, R.N.
"A stroke in laymen's terms can either be bleeding in the brain or plugging up a blood vessel causing brain injury because of a lack of blood supply," advises Connie Chen, M.D.
"And if you have had a stroke of any significance, it's going to show up extremely bright in this particular scan right here," she says.
"The faster you get to the patient, the better. And as we like to say time is brain," says Samir Shah, M.D.
The commitment at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas to foster better outcomes for stroke care has not gone unnoticed. The Joint Commission has designated the hospital as a Primary Stroke Center.
"And it is very rigorous to get," says Chen. "The name of Primary Stroke Center reflects the amount of dedication and resources steered toward the treatment of stroke and not only that there are resources put toward the treatment of stroke, but it is considered a priority and not every hospital receives this."
"We educate everyone in our hospital about signs and symptoms of stroke," says Sacks.
If you think someone is having a stroke, think fast: F-A-S-T. Look for signs of weakness in the Face and Arms and Speech problems, then don't waste Time.
"Any sudden onset of neurological symptoms can be a sign of a stroke," says Shah.
"See if you could smile, see if you could make a sentence. I knew right away," says Frances Carter.
"The message is, if you have these symptoms, get to the hospital and let the medical team evaluate you," says Chen.
"I just knew that I needed to get help quickly," says Carter.
The Telemedicine system in the Texas Health Dallas Emergency Department helps physicians on the medical staff deliver stroke care in a timely way.
"It's enabled us to see patients very quickly on nights and weekends when there's not a neurologist physically in house," says Shah. "We can dial into the Telemedicine system, see and evaluate the patient by telemedicine and start treatment even before we come to physically see the patient."
Quick response is key to preventing stroke damage. Some patients may get the drug tPA, the only FDA-approved medication for the treatment of stroke within 3 hours of the onset of symptoms.
"It is a way to bust up a clot that has plugged up a blood vessel," says Chen.
Depending on specific criteria, if given within 3 or 4 ½ hours of the start of stroke symptoms, tPA may reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke. The sooner the drug is given, the better the chances for a good outcome, but because bleeding is a possible complication, not every stroke patient receives tPA.
Texas Health Dallas' stroke rehabilitation program was the nation's second and the first in Texas to get "Stroke Specialty Program" accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities.
"Every individual will express their stroke in differing degrees and in different levels of impairment," says J. Lydelle Owens, MCD,CCC-Slp.
"Research has definitely shown that the earlier we get busy and really work with these patients and the more intensively that we get busy and work with them...the better the outcome."
"Every day is a milestone," says Carter. "I wouldn't have been anywhere without these people. They are so good, they're so encouraging, they're so thorough."
"Stroke affects not just the person, but also the family," says Chen. "People who have one stroke are prone to have more."
"The Dallas Area Stroke Network, which includes hospitals that are Primary Stroke Centers...they are going to work together to educate our community as a whole," says Sacks.
"We provide the patients not only with the basic information and requirements for a Primary Stroke Center, but we're looking forward to enhancing and providing new therapies and enhancing our program on an ongoing basis."
Texas Health Resources
1-877-THR-WELL
www.TexasHealth.org
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