Stroke Treatment: The Golden Three Hours of Stroke Care
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When a possible stroke patient arrives in the Emergency Room, the physician must be able to quickly determine whether the stroke is ischemic or hemorrhagic before the appropriate therapy can begin. The ability to pinpoint quickly the location of a stroke and determine the extent of damage is critical in making treatment decisions during a stroke emergency.
The ED and Stroke team provides fast, appropriate care:
- Administration of tPA (clot-busting drug) when appropriate and if within three hours of onset of symptoms
- Rapid neurological imaging (CT scan)
- Rapid laboratory test results
- Medications including thrombolytic and antiplatelet agents
- Cardiac monitoring and assessment
- Vital sign monitoring and assessment
Patients may be admitted to our Stroke Unit directly from the SNMH Emergency Department. The Stroke Unit delivers care using national stroke guidelines and best practices. Our nursing staff has advanced training in caring for stroke patients. Care is personalized, coordinated and provided in an interdisciplinary manner.
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The Stroke Unit focuses on stabilizing medical complications and begins the rehabilitation process. Physical and occupational therapists and speech/language pathologists are part of the treatment team and provide rehabilitation early on to optimize recovery.
Stroke Collaborative - organized stroke care saves lives
- 21% reduction in early mortality
- 18% reduction in 12-month mortality
- Decreased length of hospital stay
- Decreased need for institutional care
The Stroke Collaborative is a joint campaign of the American Academy of Neurology, the American College of Emergency Physicians and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, created to encourage Americans to recognize stroke symptoms, call 9-1-1 and get to the Emergency Department.
What you need to know - giveme5forstroke.org
For more information about Stroke Care, Stroke Support Groupand Community Education Classes at Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital, please call the Stroke Program at (530) 274-6771.
