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stroke management, from acute stroke response times to inpatient rehabilitation capabilities, is always our goal. We have a dedicated team of neurointensivists staffing our 20-bed neurointensive care unit. They are there 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days of the year — unlike any other hospital in the state except KU Medical Center in Kansas City. Furthermore, we have unparalleled inter- ventional neuroradiology capabilities." Many studies show that patients treated at hospitals upholding a rigorous set of standards and having a dedicated stroke team, as well as achieving Primary Stroke Center Certification from The Joint Commission, have a significantly lower mortality rate and experience fewer in-hospital complications when compared with national averages. "This highlights the importance of choosing a health care provider that can consistently deliver outstanding clinical care and patient results, and the value of having these services available locally," Dr. Walker says. Advanced Options Address Critical Needs According to S. Kumar Reddy, M.D., Director of Interventional Radiology, the development of a Level 1 stroke center requires a dedicated team of professionals and the implementation of advanced, proven techniques and technologies. "Acute stroke care is unique in that the time from onset of symptoms to start of treatment is critical. To make this possible, an acute stroke response team consists of several layers of medical professionals including the paramedics, ER physicians and staff, the acute stroke team, Radiology, Neurointerventional Services, and Neurosurgery. Additionally, the hospital also has to allocate the resources to make the whole vision pos- sible. In effect, the whole team, including the hospital administration, has to 'buy into' the acute stroke response concept, since ultimately our patient outcomes will reflect the efficient delivery of treatment. I strongly feel that we have achieved this goal," Dr. Reddy says. Jim Walker, M.D., Medical Director of Via Christi Stroke Center (left), confers with Sarah Brown, R.N., Program Coordinator for Via Christi Hospital Stroke Center. The future of stroke therapy will be strongly impacted by advances in interventional radiology. Via Christi has a comprehensive neurointerventional service. As such, patients who are out of the intravenous therapeutic window are considered for more novel neurointer- ventional options. These options include micro-catheter directed intra-arterial infusion of thrombolytics at the site of the blood clot and use of MERCI or Penumbra devices to retrieve blood clots from the site of the stroke. Radiology services at Via Christi also include 24-hour availability of cross-sectional imaging, including CT and MRI. A portable CT scanner is also available to obtain CT scans of critically ill stroke patients in the ICU, where they can be better monitored, avoiding the risks of being transported to and from the Radiology Department. Notable Firsts and Leading Technologies Via Christi lays claim to many notable firsts, which attest to its aggressive and comprehensive stroke- management system. "Over the years, Via Christi has had a lot of 'firsts in Kansas,' namely the first use of ONYX for AVMs, use of stent- assisted coiling of aneurysms, first use of the MERCI device and first use of the Penumbra device, just to name a few. This really highlights our capabilities when it comes to neuroendovascular therapies," Dr. Reddy says. "This year, we will be the first in Kansas to use the Pipeline stent. This device should be a game changer for the endovascular treatment of large intracranial aneurysms. We may also be the first to use the upcoming stent retrievers for intracranial clot retrieval." These kinds of advances cannot happen without a supportive administration. Making note of his own specialty, Dr. Reddy adds, "The neuroendovascular services at Via Christi are comprehensive, and we offer essentially all of the services that can be found at any major referral center in the United States. Although stroke therapy and especially neuroendovascular MDNEWS.COM ■ MD NEWS Greater Kansas | 1 1 PHOTOS PROVIDED BY VIA CHRISTI HEALTH