McLeod receives stroke certification

Posted: Published on August 28th, 2014

This post was added by Dr Simmons

FLORENCE, S.C. The Joint Commission, in conjunction with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, recently awarded McLeod Regional Medical Center with its Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers.

Dr. Timothy Hagen, McLeod staff neuro-hospitalist, said the certification allows the hospital to work as a substitute hub with the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).

It allows us to evaluate and treat strokes appropriately, Hagen said. If super-intervention (with a stroke patient) is needed, we can send patients to MUSC for treatment.

Last year, Hagen said more than 700 stroke patients were treated at McLeod. He said statistics show the patient population has at least a 30 percent improvement with minimal or no disability in certified hospitals.

There are a lot of steps in place to get the right stroke patient the right clot buster (or tissue plasma activator) at the right time, Hagen said. With the right clot buster, one in eight acute stroke patients will go home normal that may not have otherwise.

The McLeod Stroke Unit is a 16-bed facility where patients vital signs can be monitored. Dr. William Boulware, McLeod Clinical Stroke Services medical director, said certification represents a team effort.

It starts with EMS, Boulware said via a press release. EMS pre-alerts the Emergency Departmetn so the Stroke Team can be waiting on the aptient when they arrive. The brain cant go without blood and oxygen for very long so the time to care is crucial.

The American Stroke Association says that if you think you are having a stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately. For further information visit http://www.heart.org

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McLeod receives stroke certification

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