LMC Gains Primary Stroke Center Recertification
Are you Stroke Smart?
The Joint Commission, the nation's esteemed standards setting and accrediting body for health care quality, has recertified Wake Forest Baptist Health-Lexington Medical Center's Primary Stroke Center. This advanced certification means that Lexington Medical Center fulfills all the requirements set forth by The Joint Commission for stroke care, plus additional, clinically specific requirements and expectations.
The certification is awarded only to centers that make exceptional efforts to foster better outcomes for stroke care and signifies that the services we provide here have the critical elements to achieve long-term success in improving outcomes. It also serves as a signal to the community that the quality care provided by Lexington Medical Center is effectively managed to meet the unique and specialized needs of stroke patients.
When a stroke occurs, the faster a patient is treated, the better the chance he or she has of recovery with little or no disability. With an InTouch RP-7 telemedicine robot in the emergency department, patients are immediately linked to Wake Forest Baptist Health's comprehensive telemedicine network and have direct access to stroke experts 24-hours a day.
The robot, named LEXIE, is the audio and video link between doctors in the emergency department and the stroke specialists at Wake Forest Baptist Health. Using the robot, stroke specialists can observe the patient, the physical exam and view CT images while interacting with emergency medicine physicians. As a result, a diagnosis can be made quickly.
A stroke is a brain attack, and time saves brain when it comes to treatment. If a stroke victim seeks emergency treatment within the first three hours after onset of symptoms, he or she may be a candidate for life saving drug therapies that literally stops a stroke in its tracks.
Receiving treatment within the first three hours also increases the chances of full recovery by at least one third. Unfortunately, a majority of stroke victims wait 7 to 48 hours before seeking medical treatment, which can mean irreversible physical damage and even death.
If you are over 55, have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, smoke or are an African American, you are at increased risk for a stroke. Warning signs are sudden blurred or altered vision, weakness (usually one sided), numbness (usually one sided), difficulty speaking or understanding speech, sudden severe headache without a known cause and dizziness or imbalance.
North Carolina is situated squarely in the Stroke Belt of the United States, a section of 12 southeastern states and the District of Columbia with a high incidence of stroke. So reduce your chances of suffering a stroke by remembering the Stroke Smart 3 "R's." Reduce Risk - Recognize stroke signs early - Respond by calling 911 within the first three hours.
"I thank all of our physicians and staff who work tirelessly everyday to provide efficient, quality and safe care for stroke patients and also those who work to educate the community about stroke prevention," said Steve Snelgrove, president. "It takes a dedicated team to achieve the results we have accomplished."
Media Relations Contact:
Kathy Sushereba:
ksushere@wakehealth.edu, 336-238-4552