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Because time is crucial during a stroke, Faulkner Hospital, one
of the designated Primary Stroke Services, has educated over 6,000
of the Hospital's neighbors and staff on the warning signs and symptoms
of stroke. Tracy Sylven, C.H.E.S., Director of Community Health
and Benefits, as well as Faulkner Hospital nurses and physicians
have visited over 70 community groups, schools and meetings in Jamaica
Plain, West Roxbury, Hyde Park, Roslindale, Mattapan and Dedham.
The designation of Primary Stroke Services requires the Hospital
to follow specific protocols for patient assessment and care as
well as to commit to continually educating the public about the
warning signs and symptoms of stroke. One of the ways that Faulkner
is fulfilling its mission to educate the public is by setting up
the e-mail account stroke@faulknerhospital.org. Anyone wanting information
about stroke can e-mail this address. Also, speakers from the Hospital
are available to speak to groups in the community about stroke,
free of charge. Please call 617-983-7451 to set up a talk.
Another stroke assessment tool offered by Faulkner Hospital is
an on-line Stroke Education Survey. Information gathered from survey
participants will help to focus education efforts to help save lives.
All information gathered is confidential. After the survey, participants
are given the opportunity to read "Topic for Personal Growth"
and learn more about stroke, risk factors, prevention and resources.
To access this survey on-line:
- Access-->
- Click-->
- Click-->
- User Login:
- User Password:
- Click-->
Faulkner, the community hospital partner of Brigham and Women's
Hospital, provides emergency diagnostic and therapeutic services
by a multidisciplinary team 24 hours a day, seven days a week to
patients presenting with symptoms of acute stroke. A comprehensive
plan designed to assess and treat stroke patients expedites patient
flow from arrival at the Emergency Room through diagnostic testing
to treatment for patients meeting the criteria for administration
of the clot busting drug, tPA. Richard Larson, MD, Faulkner Hospital
Chief of Emergency Medicine states, "I believe our primary
stroke center designation is a plus for our community. The community
education process that is one of our obligations helps people to
recognize the signs of stroke and how important it is to be seen
in a stroke center as soon as possible. This should lead to more
people being eligible for thrombolytic (clot busting) therapy."
Recognizing the symptoms of a stroke and getting to a hospital
quickly are crucial. Receiving treatment within 60 minutes can prevent
disability. A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted.
When a stroke occurs, brain cells in the immediate area begin to
die because they stop getting the oxygen and nutrients they need
to function. It is important to be aware of stroke symptoms, which
include:
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg (especially
on one side of the body)
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause
If you believe someone is having a stroke call 911 immediately.
Time is of the essence.
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