INTEGRIS Stroke Centers Provide Care and Guidance for Stroke Patients
 INTEGRIS Health has two stroke centers in Oklahoma City. The James R. Daniel Stroke Center at Southwest Medical Center, which is Joint Commission certified as a primary stroke center (currently one of only two in Oklahoma) and the James R. Daniel Cerebrovascular and Stroke Center at Baptist Medical Center together treat more than 1000 strokes per year.
Physicians and nurses in both hospital emergency departments are trained and certified in assessment, care and management of acute stroke. These doctors and nurses form a Code Stroke team (rapid response of specially trained doctors and nurses specifically for stroke in the Emergency Department) that meet and exceed the national standards for rapidly treating stroke. They treat stroke following the most current evidence-based guidelines, which means you get the most effective treatments approved by the Food and Drug Administration for stroke – every day, every night, every time. Then, following emergency treatment, patients are usually admitted to the dedicated stroke centers for care and follow-up of acute ischemic stroke. Nurses in these specialty units are all trained in the care, assessment and management of stroke patients and their needs.
Stroke patients and their families are often overwhelmed in the early stages of stroke. They have many fears, questions and concerns, and struggle to know what to ask or what information they need. In addition, physical, mental and emotional changes resulting from a stroke can be very confusing and stressful, not only for the survivor but also for the family and caregivers.
Common questions for new stroke survivors and their families include:
- Will they get better soon?
- How do we prevent another stroke from occurring?
- Will they go to rehab to get better?
- What do I need to know when I take my survivor home?
- What type of additional assistance do they need and where do I get it?
One of the most important things that new stroke survivors and their families can learn is that there IS help available – you don’t have to do it ALL by yourself.
Resources that INTEGRIS now provides for stroke survivors and their families can help to address these and many other concerns. They include:
- Readily available information on the INTEGRIS Health Web site (www.integris-strokecenter.com) about stroke prevention, upcoming community stroke screenings and our stroke specialists.
- Monthly stroke classes for patients/families at high risk for stroke and TIA. Patients learn about stroke, prevention of another stroke, and community resources.
- Quarterly Stroke TUNEUP Class for answering questions about physical and speech therapy, as well as mental and emotional stresses living with stroke after going home.
- Monthly Stroke Support Group – sharing recovery, resources and experiences with other stroke families.
How much do you know about stroke?
Did you know that risk factors for stroke include:
- High blood pressure (140/90) is the MOST SIGNIFICANT STROKE RISK – BUT lowering even the bottom number 5 to 6 points from 90 lowers stroke risk 30-40 percent. Goal is 120/80.
- Age (2/3 of strokes happen at ages 65 and older, but 1/3 happen younger than 65)
- Heart disease (especially an irregular heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation)
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- High cholesterol
- Heavy alcohol use
- Sedentary lifestyle.
Previous stroke or TIA, often called a “ministroke,” has the same cause and symptoms as a “blockage” stroke, but the symptoms begin to go away in less than one hour. HOWEVER, do NOT ignore this – get to the hospital Emergency department trained to treat stroke because this can lead to a major stroke if not treated immediately. Delay or denial in a stroke can equal disability.
Did you know that according to the American Stroke Association...
- Stroke happens every 45 seconds in the United States.
- There are more than 700,000 new strokes every year in the United States.
- Oklahoma is one of the leading states in the United States for worst stroke disability and death rates.
- Stroke is the third leading cause of death, but the #1 cause of adult disability in the United States.
- Every minute matters recognizing and treating stroke – no time to waste getting help!
- For every 12 minutes stroke treatment is delayed, a pea-sized piece of brain dies. Time Lost IS Brain Lost!
- Stroke can be prevented!
Did you know the warning signs of stroke are SUDDEN?
- Slurred speech, loss of speech or inability to understand speech
- Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Weakness, numbness or paralysis
- Severe headaches with no known cause
- Confusion, dizziness or loss of balance or coordination.
- If even one of these symptoms occurs, CALL 911!
A simple way to remember how to test for stroke is to Act FAST (F=Face is uneven; A= one Arm drifts down when held out straight, S=Speech is slurred or wrong words, then it is T=Time to call 911!)
You CAN beat a stroke.
For more information about stroke, go to http://www.integris-health.com/INTEGRIS/en-US/Locations/okcSouth/SMC-okc/LocalSpecialties/Neurosciences/Stroke, http://www.strokeassociation.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1200037, http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1200000, or call the INTEGRIS HealthLine at (405) 951-2277.
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