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Primary Stroke Centers
November 25, 2008 |
In recent years new developments and research have greatly changed the way medical
professionals respond to and treat strokes.
Dr. Paul Driscoll is a neurologist with Lee Memorial Health System. He says, “20
years ago a stroke was you put them to bed and hope for the best and it’s really
come a long way, as far as things we do at the front end of treating the stroke.”
Now some hospitals have areas dedicated specifically to stroke response and treatment. “There are two levels of stroke centers. One is primary which is what Lee Memorial
and Southwest Regional have been designated as. That means that they met a certain
standard for the American Heart/American Stroke Association as far as the ability
to integrate a team of EMS, emergency physicians, radiologists, neurologists to
integrate trying to get stroke initial care sped up, organized and get them onto
treatment as soon as possible,” says Dr. Driscoll.
When it comes to successful treatment, studies show the first three hours after
a stroke are the most crucial. There can be many steps to complete in that short
amount of time. Dr. Driscoll says, “You have to train the guys who are in the field
first to recognize a stroke. They actually carry a little check sheet that they
go through and then that comes with the patient to the ER, and in the ER the ER
physician has his things that he goes through, and then they get on the phone to
one of the neurologists who happens to be on call, and then we come on in and do
our part.”
If there is one in their community, emergency officials are required by Florida state law to transport stroke patients to the closest primary stroke center. |
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