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When Stella Johnson arrived at Mercy Medical Center
Redding, the hospital set a record for its swiftest stroke care
yet. Within nine minutes she received CT scans and a “clot-
busting” medicine called tissue plasminogen activator (TPA).
might be permanently disabled.
But after the TPA shot, as friends
and family arrived, her symptoms
began to subside. “I could actu-
ally move my fingers,” she says.
“It was a miracle.”
Theneed for speed
Like most strokes, Stella’s was
triggered when a clot blocked
circulation to her brain. A less com-
mon type of stroke happens when a
blood vessel bleeds into the brain.
Both types need immediate atten-
tion, says emergency medicine
physician Jesse Wells, MD, who
helped coordinate Stella’s care.
“But when it’s a clot-caused stroke,
there’s an opportunity to dissolve
the clot and resupply blood to that
part of the brain,” he explains.
“Which means the patient may
havemuch less disability than they
would otherwise—and perhaps a
complete recovery.”
However, the clot-busting drug
must be given quickly to limit
a stroke’s devastating effects.
For these reasons, MMCR has
a system to ensure that patients
receive timely care. Often, that
starts with early notification from
ambulance crews or an evalua-
tion by specially trained emer-
gency room nurses.
“We call it a ‘stroke alert,’” says
Kevin Baird, RN, Stroke Services
Coordinator. When that call
comes, a stroke team is ready and
waiting, with the goal of treating
within 60 minutes. That includes
performing rapid CT brain scans
and preparing the stroke-stopping
medicine even before imaging test
results are known. “Really, rapid
evaluation is the key,” Baird says.
Stroke care closer tohome
A telemedicine program that
launched last summer is helping to
ensure rapid evaluation is available
at all three Dignity Health North
State hospitals. It provides patients
at MMCR, Mercy Medical Center
Mt. Shasta, and St. Elizabeth Com-
munity Hospital around-the-clock
access to a neurological consult
from the Dignity Health Neurologi-
cal Institute in Sacramento. Using a
telestroke robot, the remote neurol-
ogist can speak with the patient and
perform an examwithinminutes.
And clot-busting drugs can be
administered at all three hospitals.
Backon track
But none of this may matter unless
people get to the hospital quickly.
Stella hopes her story will inspire
others to call 911 if they “even
think they’re having a stroke.”
She is happy to have returned to
volunteering and has no lasting
effects. “I know the good Lord
walked with me that day,” she says.
Sudden numbness or weakness of the leg.
Sudden confusion or trouble understanding.
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of
balance or coordination.
Sudden severe headache with no known cause.
Can they smile? Is
the smile uneven?
OTHER STROKE SIGNS
If someone shows any of these
signs, call 911 right away.
F
ACE
Is one arm weak or
numb? Ask the
person to raise both
arms. Does one arm
drift downward?
A
RM
Can they repeat a
simple sentence? Is
it slurred or hard to
understand?
S
PEECH
Call 911 immediately,
even if the symptoms
go away. Note the
time when the first
symptoms appeared.
It will help with
treatment options.
T
IME
Source: American Stroke Association
F. A. S. T.
AN EASY WAY TO REMEMBER
THE SUDDEN SIGNS OF STROKE
Dignity Health