WINTER 2006
A
t Mather Hospital's Primary Stroke Center, a "stroke team" has been established and is operational to rapidly and
effectively diagnose and deliver emergency and acute stroke care treatment. If you suffer from any of the signs and
symptoms of stroke (see sidebar, Page 4), here's a look at what you can expect at Mather's Primary Stroke Center:
The Stroke Center at Mather Hospital
For more information
Ifyouorsomeoneyouloveisinneedofemergencymedicaltreatmentfor
stroke,whygoanywhereelse?Formoreinformation,callthePrimaryStroke
CenteratMatherHospitalat
(631) 473-1320 ext. 4432.
Many times when all protocols are followed, a
stroke patient is discharged within days of the
brain attack. Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
patients often go home in two days. Patients who
receive their treatment at designated stroke
centers generally have shorter hospital stays and
less permanent disabilities.
n
One of Mather's 15 trained radiologists reads the
digital images of the CT scan of the brain and
faxes interpretation immediately to the
Emergency Department.
Upon diagnosis, a nurse administers an
antiplatelet medication to help reverse the
symptoms of stroke. Here, the patient receives his
medication. After the CT scan of the brain rules
out hemorrhage, some patients who present to
the ED within three hours of the onset of
symptoms may receive the "clot buster" tPA to
break up the clot causing an ischemic stroke.
A CT Scan Technologist takes images of the brain
to help determine if the patient is having an
ischemic or hemorrhagic brain attack. This study
is performed and interpreted within 45 minutes of
the patient arriving at the Primary Stroke Center
at Mather Hospital.
While a Mather Stroke Center/Emergency
Department nurse takes patient history and
prepares the patient's chart, a Laboratory
Technologist is called on to draw blood for testing.
Results are available within 45 minutes.
An Emergency Department physician who meets or exceeds the criteria set by the New York State
Department of Health to care for stroke patients conducts a medical evaluation within 10 minutes of the
patient arriving at Mather's Stroke Center. During the exam, special tests such as an EKG and CT scan are
ordered and performed by trained technologists with interpretation available within 45 minutes.
...and calls for immediate transport to a
monitored treatment area.
Mather's Emergency Department secretary
immediately contacts all stroke team members,
alerting them that a stroke patient has presented
in the ED. If a patient arrives via ambulance, the
EMS crew will report the patient's "Cincinnati
Prehospital Stroke Scale." When a patient presents
with one of the scale's three signs, there is a 72
percent chance that he or she is having a stroke.
A patient with symptoms of a stroke walks (or is
transported by EMS) into Farber Emergency
Pavilion at Mather Hospital on his own. He notices
the sign that reads "If You Think You Are Having
Symptoms Of A Heart Attack Or Stroke; Please
Sign-In And Tell The Nurse IMMEDIATELY." A Triage
nurse greets this patient...
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