Intermountain Medical Center stroke coordinator Kelly Anderson poses for photos Thursday, May 10, 2012.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
SALT LAKE CITY More than 850 patients were treated for strokes at the Intermountain Medical Center last year. The staff is expecting to surpass that number this year, as more people are leading unhealthy lifestyles and are therefore at higher risk for stroke.
"We see more than anywhere in the state," said Kelly Anderson, coordinator of the hospital's stroke program. She credits the high-quality care offered at IMC, as well as the speed in which patients are treated.
Anderson mans a booth at health fairs and visits a variety of organizations and agencies throughout the year, educating people on what to do in case of a stroke or witnessing another person having a stroke. She said the first thing to do is always to "call 911."
A 2009 Utah Department of Health survey states that most people could not recognize the symptoms of a stroke, which include a sudden feeling of weakness on one side of the body, changes in vision and speech, or a droop on one side of the face. About 45 percent of adults in Utah indicated they couldn't identify the stroke, nor would they think to call 911 at all.
"That's really scary to me," Anderson said. "There's not a week that goes by that we don't hear someone say they thought they should lie down and take a nap, hoping the symptoms would just go away and they'd get better."
A hospital is the safest place to be, she said, even with just one noticeable symptom. And it is important to get there as soon as possible.
A person brought in via ambulance, Anderson said, often receives treatment at least five minutes faster than those who drive themselves or arrive on their own. While the costs may be higher, in the long run it is less expensive than dealing with a lifelong disability caused by a prolonged stroke.
"Our team can be activated faster and we can treat you faster," she said.
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Life-changing stroke can be prevented Doctors to take questions about signs, treatment during Health Hotline