CHI - Mercy Hospital Valley City

Cristal's stroke journey began on March 31, 2010. That morning, Cristal suddenly lost consciousness while getting ready for work. When her husband came into the room to check on her, she was lying unresponsive on the oor. Her husband called 911, and Cristal was rushed by ambulance to CHIMercy Health. AT THE READY To ensure community members like Cristal receive treatment as quickly as possible, emergency medical technicians notify the CHI Mercy Health Emergency Department as soon as they identify someone with possible stroke symptoms. The stroke team then assembles, so care can begin as soon as the ambulance arrives. The state of North Dakota began accrediting Acute Stroke Ready Hospitals in 2015, and CHI Mercy Health received the certication in November. However, the system of stroke care that helped CHI Mercy Health attain the accreditation has been in place since 2009. Accreditation as an Acute Stroke Ready Hospital means the hospital has a dedicated stroke team, plus radiology and laboratory technicians, and a provider available 24hours a day, seven days a week to diagnose stroke and begin initial treatment. When appropriate, stroke treatment may include the intravenous "clot-busting" drug known as t-PA, or Activase®. "Everyone on our team knows what needs to be done both on an individual level and together to achieve the best results for our patients," says Amy Noeske, PharmD, RPh, Pharmacy Manager at CHI Mercy Health. "We are well prepared to get patients the fastest possible, most appropriate treatment." MAKING THE DIAGNOSIS Our protocol for identifying stroke begins with a computed tomography (CT ) scan and laboratory testing to rule out other conditions. Our goal is for patients to receive a CT scan within 20 minutes of their hospital arrival and for the scans to be read by a radiologist within 45 minutes. "CT scans tell us if a stroke is due to a blood clot or bleeding in the brain," says Susan Kringlie, MT (ASCP), Laboratory, Radiology, and Infection Prevention Manager at CHI Mercy Health. "The two types of stroke are managed dierently. Determining which type of stroke is occurring helps us plan treatment." When Cristal arrived at the Emergency Department on that fateful day, she was paralyzed on the right side of her body, unable to comprehend her surroundings, and struggling with aphasia, a condition that aects a person's ability to speak and understand language. A CT scan conrmed what doctors feared: Cristal had experienced a stroke. Because she arrived at the hospital within four and a half hours of the start of her symptoms and her stroke was caused by a blood clot, Cristal was a candidate for t-PA. After starting the treatment, Cristal—like all stroke patients treated at CHI Mercy Health—was prepared for transfer to a tertiary hospital in Fargo, where she spent two weeks and started on the path to healing. For the rst two weeks after her stroke, Cristal completed three hours of daily physical, occupational, and speech therapy. She continued working on her speech for up to eight hours every day following her discharge and regained most of her speech within a year and a half of her stroke. Today, Cristal enjoys spending time at home with her two daughters and helping her husband manage their business, High Plains Water. "I thought stroke only aected older people," Cristal says. "But I was only 35years old when I had my stroke. Evenif youare young, it's important to be able to recognize stroke symptoms and seek treatment right away. I am so thankful CHIMercy Health had t-PA available onsite to help facilitate better outcomes for strokepatients. " To learn more about emergency services at CHI Mercy Health, visit www.mercyhospitalvalleycity.org. Don't Delay! During a stroke, 2 million brain cells die every minute, according to the National Stroke Association. To help people better understand and recognize the warning signs, the American Stroke Association developed the acronym F.A.S.T. Here's what to look for: F— If one side of a person's smile is uneven because his or her face is drooping on that side, a stroke may be to blame. A— Stroke may cause weakness or paralysis that affects one side of the body. The American Stroke Association recommends asking people to lift both arms. People who are having a stroke may not be able to fully lift one arm. S— The inability to speak or understand spoken words is a common stroke warning sign. T— Time matters. The most effective treatment for strokes caused by a blood clot is the medication tPA, which should be given within four hours of the onset of stroke symptoms. If you notice stroke warning signs, call 911. In addition, Alana Wendel, Emergency Department Manager at CHI Mercy Health, recommends a stroke evaluation if you or a loved one suddenly develops a severe headache, dizziness, or confusion. C Hi Mercy He alth... W here the Force is W ith You www.mercyhospitalvalleycity.org /// 701 8456400 /// CHI MERCY HEALTH 3

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