4 FAITH REGIONAL
HEALTH SERVICES
Faith Regional is
now a Certified
Primary Stroke
Center. Call 911
right away if
you recognize
signs of a stroke
in yourself or
someone else.
Time is brain
GET THE RIGHT STROKE CARE
TO GET THE BEST
care when you or a loved one is having a stroke, you
need speed, expertise and experience on your side. Faith Regional is proud to now
be a Certified Primary Stroke Center. The quicker you can get to the right care, the
better your chance is for a full recovery.
A certified stroke center follows best practices for stroke care from the Brain
Attack Coalition, a group of leaders in the field of stroke. Certification is through
the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association and The Joint
Commission. Stroke certification is awarded for a two-year period.
The process for Faith Regional to become a Certified Primary Stroke Center
involved implementing nationally recognized best practices for stroke care. In
November 2013, Faith Regional hosted surveyors from The Joint Commission
who evaluated the hospital’s stroke program.
“Our certification makes Faith Regional the only certified
stroke program in our 12-county primary and second-
ary service area,” says Jenny Simmons, RN, Faith
Regional Cardiovascular Care Coordinator.
Stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term
disability in U.S. adults and is the fourth
leading cause of death. Two keys to reduc-
ing stroke-related disability and death are
rapid diagnosis and treatment. Certified
Primary Stroke Centers focus on just
that. Among other things, a Certified
Primary Stroke Center offers:
•
A 24/7 acute stroke team.
The team
includes a physician and others ex-
perienced in stroke diagnosis and
treatment.
•
Excellent coordination with
emergency medical services
personnel.
This allows care to
start before the patient reaches
our door.
•
Fast access to brain imaging services.
That cuts the time it takes to diagnose
a stroke. The sooner a diagnosis is made,
the sooner treatment can begin.
Call 911 right away if you recognize signs
of a stroke in yourself or someone else.
Symptoms include sudden:
•
Numbness or weakness in the face, arm or
leg, especially on one side of the body.
•
Trouble speaking or understanding.
•
Trouble seeing—in one or both eyes.
•
Trouble walking, dizziness or loss of balance.
•
Severe headache with no known cause.
Sources:American Heart Association/American Stroke Association; Brain Attack
Coalition; National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
