January 25, 2019
We’re honored and thrilled to announce that St. Vincent Indianapolis, a Goodman Campbell partner, has achieved the nation’s highest level of certified stroke care. The certification comes from The Joint Commission, and is a designation shared by less than four percent of hospitals in the United States.
St. Vincent Indianapolis’s partnership with the fellowship-trained Interventional Neuroradiologists here at Goodman Campbell means we’re able to provide our expertise at one of the best hospitals in the country. We’re proud to work with a hospital dedicated to high-level performance and continual improvement, and, as the new certification attests, one that is equipped to deal with even the most complex stroke cases.
What is a stroke?
A stroke is both serious and fairly common. In fact, it is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States, and is a leading cause of disability. A stroke occurs when blood flow in the brain is blocked, or when there is a rupture in one of the brain’s blood vessels.
Although it’s impossible to see a stroke as it occurs, a stroke has identifiable symptoms. The mnemonic F.A.S.T. is an easy way to remember the early warning signs:
- F is for Face: Is one side of the patient’s face drooping? When you ask them to smile, does one side remain immobile?
- A is for Arm: Does the patient have difficulty raising one arm? When you ask them to do so, does one arm seem to drift down?
- S is for Speech: Does the patient slur their speech? Do they struggle to repeat words or phrases?
- T is for Time: Time is of the essence. If you see any of the symptoms above, call 911 immediately, even if the patient appears to get “better.” A patient has the best chance for recovery when they receive immediate medical attention.
It’s that last point especially—time—that makes St. Vincent Indianapolis’s new certification so important. Stroke patients need immediate, expert attention; and we’re proud to say St. Vincent Indianapolis ranks among the top hospitals in the nation for the very best care.
A leader in stroke care.
In June of 2018, we reported that call volume to the Goodman Campbell Stroke Call Center rose 200%. The call center provides a 24/7 resource for emergency rooms, ICUs, and transfer centers across the state, and is the only round-the-clock option in Indiana.
By providing resources like the call center, as well as making our neurosurgeons available to hospitals such as St. Vincent Indianapolis, Goodman Campbell has taken a leading role in providing expert stroke care to patients. We also work to help patients understand how to prevent stroke, and our doctors are at the forefront of developing new treatments and spreading stroke awareness.
If you’d like to schedule an appointment to learn more about stroke prevention and treatment, contact us today.