KINGFISHER, Okla. When Stephen Baustert noticed his wife’s face drooping on the right side one July afternoon, he knew she was likely having a stroke and needed to get to the hospital immediately.
Stephen Baustert, 67, and wife, Janis, 69, drove the three miles to Mercy Hospital Kingfisher and were surprised at what they found.
Upon arrival in the emergency room, they were immediately led into a room. A physician assistant examined Janis Baustert, reviewed her medical history and activated the stroke response team.
The response was quick and featured a series of well-orchestrated activities, including a blood draw, computerized tomography (CT) scan and blood pressure monitoring. Within minutes, the couple was communicating with a Mercy neurologist in Springfield, Missouri, on a television screen through two-way, audio-visual technology.
“As it turns out, the neurologist already had all her medical records from Mercy and was looking over the previous CT scan and MRI,” said Stephen Baustert. “Everything’s going so fast I’m thinking, ‘good grief, how did they get all this done?’”
Janis Baustert was Mercy Hospital Kingfisher’s first patient to use the new telestroke program in July after the hospital staff was trained on the program.
“I’m just so happy the telestroke service is there for other people in a similar situation,” said Stephen Baustert. “The speed at which all this happened was lightning fast. Everyone knew exactly what to do and the doctor was very professional. We were really impressed with the whole situation.”
Time Is Brain
When you or a loved one is having a stroke, every minute counts. A stroke occurs when the flow of blood is cut off to the brain causing the brain tissue to die, which can result in permanent damage or death.
Mercy’s telestroke program connects patients to specialized care without driving to Oklahoma City to see a specialist. The telestroke program is available at nine Mercy hospitals throughout the state, including the communities of Ardmore, El Reno, Guthrie, Healdton, Kingfisher, Marietta, Oklahoma City, Tishomingo and Watonga.
If the neurologist determines that the patient is having a stroke through the telestroke program, the local emergency room provider can administer tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), the clot-buster drug that is approved for the acute treatment of ischemic stroke, the most common type of stroke. The drug is most effective when provided within three hours after symptoms begin.
“Two million brain cells die every minute when a patient is having a stroke,” said Dr. Richard V. Smith, medical director of Mercy’s NeuroScience Institute in Oklahoma City. “Once you lose those brain cells, you can’t get them back, so it is important to get to the emergency room immediately to limit brain damage by receiving the treatment you need, when you need it.”
Waiting too long to administer the medication could mean serious disability or death.
In Janis Baustert’s case, the neurologist determined that the use of tPA could be more harmful than helpful because she had experienced two minor strokes previously, most recently in May. If a patient who had a stroke in the last three months receives tPA, that patient is at a higher risk for developing a brain hemorrhage, which is bleeding in the brain that can lead to further brain damage.
Stephen Baustert was glad to have a neurologist on hand to make that treatment decision. Janis Baustert was transferred to Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City and stayed overnight.
Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City was the state’s first hospital to earn the Advanced Certification for Comprehensive Stroke Centers from The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association. The certification recognizes those hospitals with state-of-the-art infrastructure, staff and training to receive and treat patients with the most complex strokes.
So far for Janis Baustert, the stroke has led to some memory loss, but no other major complications.
“In smaller communities, the thought may be to head to Oklahoma City instead of your local hospital, but in the case of stroke, time is of the essence,” said Stephen Baustert. “I wouldn’t hesitate to stop at Kingfisher again; it was a positive experience.”
Stroke by the Numbers
Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the United States and more than half of stroke patients will not be able to care for themselves after a stroke if they do not arrive to the emergency room quickly to receive treatment. The National Stroke Association estimates about 795,000 strokes occur annually in the United States — one stroke every 40 seconds.
Oklahoma has the fourth highest rate of stroke-related death in the country, accounting for almost 1,900 deaths in 2012 (the fifth leading cause of death in Oklahoma), according to the 2014 State of the State’s Health Report from the Oklahoma State Department of Health.
The addition of telestroke in Mercy’s rural facilities is an innovative way Mercy is preventing disability and saving lives around the state.
Stroke Symptoms
If you notice someone with the following symptoms, remember to think FASST and call 9-1-1.
· Face: Ask the person to smile. Does the face look uneven?
· Arm: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift down?
· Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Does the speech sound strange?
· Sudden loss of vision: Is the person experiencing a sudden loss of vision?
· Time: Don’t waste time. Seek medical attention immediately.
Nine Ways to Prevent a Stroke
Obesity, smoking and overconsumption of alcohol can lead to a stroke. The National Stroke Association recommends the following nine ways to prevent a stroke:
· Know your blood pressure and keep it under control.
· Work with your doctor to determine if you have atrial fibrillation, which can cause blood to collect in your heart chambers, leading to possible clots that can cause a stroke.
· Stop smoking.
· Drink alcohol in moderation, if you drink at all.
· Know your cholesterol and work with your doctor to lower your cholesterol if it is high.
· If you are diabetic, control your diabetes with the help of your doctor.
· Increase your daily exercise.
· Eat low-sodium, low-fat foods.
· Ask your doctor if you have problems with circulation.
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