FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 17, 2010
Arcadia—Beginning Friday, August 20, Los Angeles County paramedics will transport patients with stroke symptoms to Methodist Hospital. The Joint Commission recently approved Methodist Hospital as an advanced primary stroke center, and the hospital is now one of only a handful of approved centers in LA County with advanced capabilities to care for stroke victims.
“This has vital importance for our community,” said Kelly Linden, senior vice president and chief operating officer. “While we have always provided excellent care to our stroke patients, this demonstrates our commitment to providing comprehensive care and support to our patients and their families. We can now offer these services to a broader community.”
Kenneth Wogensen, MD, medical director of Methodist Hospital’s stroke center, said, “This is a significant milestone for the hospital, but more important, a wonderful benefit for Arcadia and surrounding communities.”
Paramedics normally take stroke patients to the nearest hospital. But some patients must then be transferred again for advanced treatment. If stroke patients are within 30 minutes of a stroke center that can diagnose and treat stroke patients with the latest evidenced-based medicine, paramedics will take them to that facility. However, people must know to call 911 as soon as someone around them begins to show signs of stroke.
Because every second counts, valuable time – and lives – can be saved when paramedics can transport stroke patients directly to a primary stroke center like Methodist Hospital.
“Time loss is brain loss,” said Sabrina Luu, stroke program coordinator. “A lot of education still needs to go out to the community about the signs and symptoms of stroke and the importance to activate 911.”
Stroke, a sudden impairment of cerebral circulation in one or more blood vessels, is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. and the leading cause of disability in adults. About 700,000 strokes occur each year. Prevention and preparedness help decrease the incidence of stroke.
Methodist Hospital uses a multidisciplinary stroke team system that includes the emergency physician, neurologist, neurosurgeon, radiologist, attending physician, nurse practitioner, nurse educator, registered nurse, physical therapist, occupational therapist and speech therapist.
Stroke is an emergency, and every minute counts. Stroke victims will be transported to The acronym FAST stands for “face, arm, speech and time.” It’s important to remember this acronym in case of the following symptoms of stroke:
• Facial droop, uneven smile
• Arm numbness, weakness
• Slurred speech, difficulty speaking or understanding
• (Time to) call 911 and get to the hospital (the nearest certified stroke center) immediately
It is vitally important to dial 911 immediately when someone displays any of these symptoms. Hospitals usually have less than three hours after stroke symptoms begin to start treating a blood clot in the brain. Many stroke victims, however, don’t even realize they are having a stroke, or they ignore the symptoms, hoping they will go away.
ASC standards are based on The Joint Commission's Primary Stroke Center Certification Standards and American Heart Association/American Stroke Association guidelines. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation's main standards-setting and accrediting body in health care.
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