(JANUARY 7, 2010) Far Rockaway, NY - - - St. Johns Episcopal
Hospital recently was designated as a Stroke Center by the State
Hospital Review and Planning Council of the New York State Department of
Health. That means that patients who live in the area and suffer from
an acute stroke can be treated speedily, increasing chances of survival
and improved outcomes.
This designation means that St. Johns has met the States
specific and rigorous criteria to treat victims of stroke, said John
Gupta, Chief Executive Officer of St. Johns Episcopal Hospital.
It is also a sign of the staffs clinical excellence and the
Hospitals quality of care, he added.
St. Johns Stroke Team is led by board-certified neurologist Kerin
Hausknecht, MD, and which includes neurologists, emergency medicine
clinicians, radiologists, rehabilitation medicine specialists and
nurses. The team will coordinate care and up-to-date training.
Dr. Hausknecht said, As a designated Stroke Center, we have
demonstrated that the moment a patient arrives with a stroke we are able
to identify and treat them within minutes with the most up-to-date
medical treatments available. We will be on hand to treat patients 24
hours a day, seven days a week. We are committed to helping patients
recover from stroke.
The criteria for stroke center status was developed from the Brain
Attack Coalition Guidelines and are consistent with the American Stroke
Association practice standards for the treatment of acute stroke
patients. The Stroke Center Demonstration Project of 2003 showed that
stroke centers provide significant improvement both in assessment and
response times for acute stroke patients.
Since the acceptance of the use of thrombolytics for stroke treatment,
which include tPA (tissue plasminogen activator), the prompt use of the
fast-acting clot-busters greatly reduce the risk of severe disability in
people who suffer an acute stroke. An acute stroke is where a clot
blocks the flow of blood to the brain. But speed is essential and the
drugs must be administered with the first three hours after the attack.
A stroke center designation means that the Hospitals Emergency
Department is equipped with the appropriate diagnostic equipment and
medical expertise. Ambulances will be notified to bring suspected stroke
patients to the nearest stroke center. In addition, the Hospital also
offers an easily accessible CT scan and MRI as well as the ability to
provide follow-up care including physical therapy among other medical
expertise. The Hospital is also committed to providing community
outreach and education on the dangers of stroke.
According to the American Stroke Association, more than 795,000
Americans suffer from stroke every year. On average, a stroke occurs
once every 40 seconds. Because speed is critical to the treatment of
stroke, it is important to recognize the signs and symptoms of a stroke,
which include:
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially
on one side of the body;
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding;
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes;
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or
coordination;
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause.
If you or someone with you has one or more of these symptoms, call
9-1-1 immediately so that the ambulance will come for you right away.
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