Greene County News
BEAVERCREEK – Soin Medical Center is poised to help Greene County patients suffering from a stroke with its new Stroke Center.
Approximately 800,000 strokes occur each year nationwide. Because it is the leading cause of long-term disability, Soin healthcare professionals believe that identifying and immediately addressing a stroke can better minimize its effects and aid recovery.
Soin Medical Center Inpatient Nursing Director Brad Morrison said, “This is such an important health issue right now. It is essential for all staff to have the latest and best training to provide care to patients suffering from a stroke. While debilitating, how we handle the stroke affects the final outcome for the patient. It’s all about how much of normal function can return to a patient after suffering from a stroke,” he explained.
The American Heart Association and the American Stoke Association developed FAST, which stands for: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty and Time to call 9-1-1.
Stroke Center Coordinator Megan Smith shared these tips: “Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile, is the smile uneven? Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like “The sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly? If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get the person to a hospital immediately. Check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared.”
According to Smith, a person’s best outcome increases if they receive treatment within two hours of the onset of symptoms.
“We want our patients to have the best outcome – it’s our job,” said Smith.
Neurologists are continually updating guidelines and recommendations for those suffering from a stroke, said Smith and Morrison.
For this reason the Soin Stroke Center works very closely with the Soin Emergency Department. As a team they can quickly assess the stroke symptoms and provide care as rapidly as possible, according to Smith.
“If someone is suffering from a stroke they are immediately teamed with an ER physician and two nurses for screening and a CAT Scan,” she explained. “The team identifies the status, does blood work, then provides a full assessment with a neurologist.”
Both believe the center is a great asset because, “Being a stroke center allows us to partner with top notch neurologists and gives staff an advanced level of education. We are here to serve Greene County and provide the best possible care.”
