Stroke Care... Time is Brain

Stroke Care When it Matters Most

When it comes to stroke, every second counts. From initial diagnostics and intervention to ongoing care, having expertise close at hand can dramatically affect recovery.

Patients suffer more than 780,000 strokes a year in the US and stroke remains one of the leading causes of death.  Medical evidence demonstrates that the faster you are treated after initial symptoms, the greater your chance of recovery.  

Sky Ridge participates in the Stroke Alert program with our EMS partners in the field.  Stroke Alert, developed at HealthONE in collaboration with physicians and EMS agencies, enables first responders to diagnose, transport and treat stroke victims and minimize the effects of stroke.

Stroke Telemedicine is Here for You at Sky Ridge

Sky Ridge now offers Remote Presence Robotics, the latest in stroke technology. This means patients with stroke symptoms who arrive our Emergency Department can be assessed almost instantaneously by neurologists specializing in stroke. As a result, emergency physicians can more quickly treat stroke patients and reduce or eliminate long-term stroke impacts on their patients.

“Every second counts in minimizing the damage a stroke can cause to the brain – quick assessment and personalized care are key,” says Dr. Bruce Morgenstern.  “Having this state-of-the-art telemedicine technology puts the stroke specialist instantly in the room with a patient and the Emergency Department physician.  As a stroke neurologist, I can have a conversation with the patient and family, examine the patient’s ability to move and speak, and even zoom in to assess pupil reactivity. We can talk to EMS and Emergency Department staff, and assess monitors and vital signs immediately.”

Immediate medical care of stroke can mean the difference between life and death. During a stroke, an estimated 30,000 brain cells die per second; meaning that time lost is brain lost. Evidence shows that a stroke patient’s outcomes and recovery are far better the quicker you can evaluate and treat the stroke.

The InTouch Health Remote Presence® telemedicine technology includes a camera and microphone for live two-way audio and video, and a computer, on a sleek, wheeled cart in the Emergency Department.

“There are limited numbers of stroke neurologists and other specialists in our state — but this advanced technology allows experts to see patients at the bedside, from many miles away and much faster, without losing the precious time it takes to transport a patient or wait for a specialist to arrive at the Emergency Department,” says HealthONE Chief Medical Officer Dr. George Bussey.