IT’S AMAZING what digital technology can
do these days. In our everyday lives, we can
share our snapshots immediately with friends
or use a webcam to both see and hear distant
relatives. In a similar way, technology now is
helping us deliver timely stroke care.
Telestroke uses a video conference system
and a web connection to link the expertise of
Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend’s
certifed stroke center with Emergency
Department doctors at Peace Harbor Hospital
in Florence. Without being physically at the
hospital, the specialists can examine and
speak with stroke patients in Florence and
consult with emergency physicians using
equipment that includes a webcam and video
screen. And the specialists are available 24
hours a day, 7 days a week. This is essential,
because time is crucial when someone is
having a stroke.
Most strokes happen when a clot blocks
blood fow to the brain, robbing its cells of
Telestroke
brings stroke
specialists to you
To watch a telestroke demonstration visit
www.peacehealth.org/oregontelestroke or scan here:
oxygen. A clot-busting drug called tPA (tissue
plasminogen activator) can restore blood fow
and help prevent disability in people who have
these strokes. But it must be given within three
hours of the onset of symptoms and only after
doctors determine whether the patient is a
candidate for tPA. Often, making that decision
requires consultation from a neurologist who
specializes in stroke.
That’s where telestroke comes in. When
a person who may be having a stroke arrives
at the Emergency Department, doctors
can activate the secure system to connect
remotely with a neurologist. The stroke
team member at RiverBend can see and
hear the patient and emergency doctor in
Florence, and vice versa. The neurologist can
do a stroke exam, review brain scans, take a
patient history and work with the emergency
physician. The result is a swift determination
as to whether tPA or other treatments are
needed.
A is for arm
numbness or
weakness,
especially on
one side.
F is for
facial
numbness or
weakness,
especially on
one side
Is it a stroke?
Think FAST:
T is for time.
It’s time to call
911, because
every second
counts.
S is for slurred
speech or
diffculty
speaking or
understanding.
FACE
ARM
TIME
Be a partner—learn stroke signs
Telestroke is a partnership that helps us
deliver stroke care as quickly as possible. But
you’re a partner too. Learn stroke’s warning
signs, and call 911 right away if you spot them
in yourself or someone else. They come on
suddenly and include:
■■
Numbness or weakness of the face, arms or
legs—especially on one side of the body.
■■
Confusion or trouble speaking or
understanding speech.
■■
Trouble seeing.
■■
Dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, or
trouble walking.
■■
Severe headache with no obvious cause.
Neurology
www.peacehealth.org
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